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A federal lawsuit has been filed in Washington state, alleging that police had no plan other than to use deadly force against a fugitive who was on the run in 2020 after shooting a supporter of a far-right group during clashes between supporters of then-President Donald Trump and Black Lives Matter in Portland, Oregon. The lawsuit was filed by the estate of Michael Forest Reinoehl, who identified as an anti-fascist. It claims that the officers either had no plan to arrest Reinoehl without injury, made no effort to follow such a plan, or planned to use deadly force from the start.
Reinoehl had fatally shot Aaron “Jay” Danielson during clashes between racial injustice protesters and far-right groups in downtown Portland. The incident attracted Trump’s attention and fueled tensions in the city, which had already seen weeks of violent protests against racial injustice and police brutality following the murder of George Floyd. Reinoehl was caught on surveillance video shooting Danielson after a pro-Trump demonstration.
A federal task force was attempting to arrest Reinoehl when four officers fired at him as he exited his car in September 2020. The lawsuit alleges that law enforcement officers in “militia-style fatigues” raced through a residential neighborhood in unmarked vehicles and fired over 40 bullets, killing Reinoehl, grazing a child, and damaging property.
A Washington state prosecutor decided not to file criminal charges against the officers involved. The lawsuit names the Washington State Patrol, the U.S. Department of Justice, the city of Lakewood, and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department as defendants. Responses from the defendants have not been received at the time of writing.
This lawsuit comes after a federal lawsuit filed by Danielson’s estate was dismissed last year. That lawsuit alleged negligence in handling the clashes between groups in Portland, claiming that it created an environment that encouraged lawlessness and ultimately led to the killing. The outcome of this new lawsuit remains to be seen..
