ROCK SPRINGS -- The mother of a Rock Springs man who died in police custody here 30 months ago is pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit against seven officers, one federal official and the city.
Following a foot chase and bloody alleyway brawl during a predawn rainstorm, no lawman or municipality had ever been formally accused of violating Travis W. Posselt s civil rights.
Posselt, 30, was pronounced dead upon arrival at Sweetwater Memorial Hospital at 1:40 a.m. on May 28, 2004, records show.
Last July, Sweetwater County Prosecuting Attorney Jason Petri officially closed the case, clearing all law enforcement officers involved after ruling Posselt died of an accidental methamphetamine-related overdose.
A civil lawsuit is neither a conviction nor an admission of guilt. And none of the officers or officials named in the lawsuit has addressed its allegations either publicly or in court.
The lawsuit was filed by attorney Scott T. Kamin, 40, of Cook County, Ill., who described himself as a seasoned 11-year trial attorney.
After spending a lot of time with the evidence, Kamin decided Posselt s family had a case.
According to the 11-page complaint filed Oct. 30 in U.
S. District Court in Cheyenne, Posselt's mother, Therese Gallagher, is suing:
* Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent Al Hobaugh.
* Former Rock Springs Officer Adam Davies.
* Rock Springs Sgt. Duane Pacheceo.
* Rock Springs Officer Brad Bell.
* Rock Springs Officer Tracy Frisbee.
* Rock Springs Officer Janet Kauchich.
* Rock Springs Detective Tim Robinson.
* Rock Springs Chief of Police Mike Lowell.
* The city of Rock Springs.
Despite a pathologist, forensic expert and county attorney concluding Posselt died of a drug-induced heart attack, Gallagher has alleged, among other deeds, that police concealed their actions during the arrest and sudden death of her son.
My son had blood in his nose, mouth, ears, throat, and five broken ribs, Gallagher said over French toast in a favorite chain restaurant here recently. And they want to say they didn t put their hands on my son? B - - -.
Even Gallagher s sympathizers here admitted the drumbeat of wild allegations was quickened by her splashing posters of Posselt around town, pursuing those she suspected of knowing anything about how he died, and pointed accusations, including a letter published in the local newspaper, accusing police of brutality.
In the two and half years since his final clash with police, rumors of foul play about how Posselt, a known meth user with an 11-year criminal history, died became so bizarre that Petri published an Oregon forensic consultant s report on the county government Web site.
A look at some 'evidence'
Tests revealed at the time of death that Posselt had cannabis and amphetamine in his system, which Colorado pathologist Dr.
Patrick C. Allen ruled sufficient to cause his heart attack while fleeing or fighting authorities on the night in question.
Copies of public records obtained from Sweetwater County show that Allen also found multiple [superficial] abrasions and contusions to [Posselt s] face, head, neck, and extremities and five broken ribs on one side of the dead man s body.
In the alleyway where Posselt struggled with peace officers before dying, state investigators noted blood pooling on the ground, blood smearing with hair on the power supply box and black scuff marks, including an arch pattern, official records show.
Allen said Posselt s five broken left ribs may be the result of chest compressions during efforts to save him as he went into cardiac arrest at the scene, a Wyoming investigator wrote.
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