A man shot by Milwaukie Police Department officers almost three weeks ago remains in critical condition with an inoperable bullet in his brain, his family said in a press statement Friday.
The family also claimed, through their attorneys, that Milwaukie police officers waited “nearly a half hour or more” before giving 21-year-old Hunter Newton medical care. The family has retained attorneys and may be preparing to take legal action.
“It is our deep concern that the officers violated Hunter’s constitutional rights,” wrote attorneys from the Portland firm Kell, Alterman & Runstein.
“Information at this time indicates the officers had no reason to escalate the encounter to a circumstance where Hunter could lose his life or suffer life-altering injuries,” the attorneys added.
Milwaukie police officers stopped Newton around 1 a.m. Sept. 30 in the parking lot of a Taco Bell in Clackamas County. County officials later stated Newton had a suspended license, and refused to exit the vehicle.
“Despite orders to exit and efforts to remove Newton from the car he continued to refuse and resisted removal,” Clackamas County prosecutors said in a statement.
Newton was unarmed. According to his family’s statement, Newton was seated in the driver’s seat. The two officers — identified as Sgt. Eduardo Sanchez and Officer Kwasean Akom — allegedly opened fire through the rearview window.
Bullets struck Newton in his shoulder and in the back of his head, the family said. He remains at Oregon Health & Science University.
A Milwaukie Police Department spokesperson declined to comment on the family’s statements Friday.
“Our thoughts and prayers continue for Hunter Newton and his family in hopes of a full recovery,” Sgt. Mark Inman said in an email.
It remains unclear how the situation escalated into deadly force. Newton faced a charge of driving under the influence in April, court records show, but had not been convicted.
Records also indicate that Newton and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, who charged him with the DUI, were working to send him to a diversion program.
Bystander video of the shooting shows police vehicles blocking Newton’s vehicle inside the Taco Bell parking lot. The officers were wearing body cameras and the footage has been turned over to investigators. That footage has not been released to the public.
The Oregon Department of Justice is leading the investigation. Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth formally asked the DOJ to take over on Oct. 9.
