Family sues police, county for death

The family of a 42-year-old Moyie Springs man, who died of a drug overdose, is suing Boundary County and Bonners Ferry Police for more than $1 million, according to a published report.

In a federal lawsuit, Dale A. Young's family claims police and employees at Boundary County Jail did not recognize that Young was suffering from an overdose and didn't seek medical attention.

According to the suit, police stopped Young on June 24, 2005, at Kootenai River Inn. He then swallowed a 1/4 ounce of meth in a plastic wrapper to keep police from finding it. He was taken to Boundary County Jail and four hours later, was pronounced dead at Boundary Community Hospital.

Lawyers for police have denied any wrongdoing, according to court papers.

In a Sept. 23, 2005, written statement, county prosecutor Jack Douglas also determined there was no wrong-doing by police in connection with Young's death.

Following the death, Boundary County Sheriff Greg Sprungl requested an investigation by the Idaho State Police, who submitted their findings to Douglas.

The investigation per

formed by a senior ISP investigator and corroborated by autopsy and toxicology reports showed that Young ingested the methamphetamine when the vehicle he was riding in was stopped, apparently in hopes that police would not find the drug. After swallowing the drug, however, the plastic wrapping was damaged and the drug was released into his stomach.

Once at the jail, Young used his phone call to telephone his fiance, and he told her he had taken the drug and felt sick. After hanging up, his fiance called the jail and reported what she'd been told, and the arresting officer was immediately summoned to transport Young to the hospital, where staff attempted to save his life.

Douglas said the evidence compelled him to conclude that Young's death was accidental, and could not have reasonably been foreseen or prevented by local law enforcement, and that no charges in the case are warranted.