Though a lawsuit has been filed in opposition to Cincinnati police and the Hamilton County jail in Rodney Hinton Jr.’s identify, his felony lawyer says Hinton had nothing to do with it.
That is as a result of the criticism was drafted by an Atlanta, Georgia, girl who advised The Enquirer she has by no means spoken with Hinton and that she filed the lawsuit on her personal initiative.
The lawsuit, filed Might 8 in federal court docket in Cincinnati, claims Hinton was subjected to “extreme pressure” following his arrest by Cincinnati police. He was arrested and charged within the May 2 killing of Hamilton County sheriff’s Deputy Larry Henderson, which prosecutors described as “focused.”
It additionally claims that deputies subjected Hinton to “intimidation” after they lined up in a row behind him during his May 3 court appearance in Hamilton County Municipal Court.
Rodney Hinton Jr. seems in Hamilton County Municipal Court docket’s Courtroom A on Might 3, surrounded by sheriff’s deputies.
“I had nothing to do with it. My shopper had nothing to do with it,” mentioned lawyer Clyde Bennett II, who’s representing Hinton in his felony case. Hinton, who’s charged with aggravated homicide, faces the demise penalty if convicted.
“We had been completely unaware of it till it was reported by the media,” Bennett mentioned of the lawsuit. He added that the criticism seems to be “frivolous” as a result of it wasn’t filed by an lawyer.
Mike Allen, a former Hamilton County prosecutor, mentioned the lawsuit probably will likely be thrown out.
“I do not see the way it may proceed if she has nothing to do with him,” Allen mentioned, including that Cincinnati police or the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Workplace can search to dismiss the swimsuit, or the choose can do it.
“It’s extremely unusual,” Allen mentioned.
Not a licensed lawyer
The girl who filed the preliminary criticism in addition to an amended criticism 4 days later, Antoinette Holloway, will not be a licensed lawyer. She filed the criticism on Hinton’s behalf and recognized herself as a “subsequent buddy,” a authorized time period that refers to an individual who “seems in court docket rather than one other who will not be competent to take action,” in accordance with Cornell Law School.
In a telephone interview, Holloway advised The Enquirer she has not spoken with Hinton however felt compelled to file the lawsuit after studying information protection on-line of Hinton’s case. She mentioned she would not consider Hinton is receiving satisfactory authorized illustration.
Along with the lawsuit, Holloway has filed a habeas corpus petition in federal court docket, requesting Hinton’s speedy launch from custody.
Rodney Hinton Jr. seems to be again at individuals seated within the courtroom following his arraignment Tuesday, Might 13, on costs together with aggravated homicide within the killing of Hamilton County sheriff’s Deputy Larry Henderson.
In keeping with a Cincinnati police detective’s testimony at a earlier court docket listening to, Hinton and different relations met with Cincinnati police on Might 2 and watched bodycam video of Hinton’s 18-year-old son, Ryan, being fatally shot by an officer. The capturing occurred the day past in East Value Hill as police had been investigating a stolen automobile.
Bennett mentioned in court docket that Hinton’s psychological well being situation led him to drive into the deputy. He mentioned Hinton was “triggered” by seeing a video of his son being fatally shot by police the day past.
Henderson was not concerned within the stolen automobile investigation that led to Hinton’s son being shot by police. The deputy was dealing with visitors management throughout a College of Cincinnati commencement ceremony.
Would have acted ‘equally’ to Hinton
Holloway advised The Enquirer that she believes she would have acted equally to Hinton if certainly one of her family members had been fatally shot by police.
Holloway described herself as “self-taught” in submitting lawsuits, including that she’s been doing so since 2019. Court docket information present she has represented herself in federal lawsuits in opposition to at the least 5 police companies in Georgia. 4 of these had been dismissed by a choose’s order, and one stays pending.
She mentioned she’ll file a lawsuit “if I see one thing that is going to have an effect on me in any type or vogue.”
A 2020 lawsuit in opposition to the Atlanta Police Division was dismissed a couple of days after Holloway filed it by U.S. District Choose Thomas Thrash Jr., who declared the swimsuit to be frivolous.
Two years later, Thrash dismissed one other of Holloway’s lawsuits in opposition to Atlanta police for being frivolous, including that she alleged “no details.”
Court docket information present she has additionally sued Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and former U.S. Lawyer Basic Merrick Garland.
This text initially appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Attorney: Rodney Hinton Jr. not involved in suit filed on his behalf
