MADISON, Wis. (Legal Newsline) - The estate of a man who died in custody from an overdose is now suing Ashland, Wis., and several of its prison staff.
In a lawsuit filed Jan. 9 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, the Estate of Aaron Frank Craig Sr. and Kathleen Rose Craig sued Ashland County, City of Ashland, Sheriff Brian Zupke and unknown law enforcement and corrections officers.
The suit alleges officers failed to search Craig after arresting him and failed to locate any methamphetamine or other drugs on his person.
The complaint arises from the death of Aaron Frank Craig Sr., which occurred on Jan. 27, 2023.
"As a result of the negligence... Mr. Craig died from a drug overdose while in custody," the suit says.
"The actions taken by the defendants toward the Mr. Craig as alleged herein, were motivated by evil intent or involved reckless or callous indifference to Mr. Craig’s clearly established federal rights under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution."
The plaintiffs are represented by Linda Coleman of Spears, Carlson & Coleman in Washburn.