Family of man who died in police struggle sues Snohomish County

SEATTLE -- The family of a man who died during a struggle with police on the Tulalip Indian Reservation last fall has filed a lawsuit against the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office.

The Daily Herald reports the lawsuit filed Thursday in King County Superior Court alleges negligence and excessive force in the death of 50-year-old Cecil Lacy Jr.

The lawsuit was filed by Seattle attorney Ryan Dreveskracht on behalf of Lacy's wife and daughter.

A Snohomish County prosecutor says the county will respond accordingly when it receives the lawsuit.

Lacy was detained while walking the evening of Sept. 18, 2015. An autopsy determined he died of a heart attack while struggling with two Tulalip Tribal Police officers and a Snohomish County sheriff's deputy. It determined the struggle was a factor, along with heart problems and methamphetamine use.

The family believes suffocation from being pinned contributed to Lacy's death.