CHARLESTON – The mother of a Parkersburg man claims city police officers repeatedly failed to obtain mental health assistance during a March 2025 crisis, then used excessive force that left him with permanent brain damage and dependence on a ventilator.
Janet Williamson, acting as guardian for Justin Matthew Williamson, filed her complaint September 23 in federal court against the City of Parkersburg and six of its police officers. The officers are Ken M. Love, Braden K. Hubler, Daniel P. Logan, Andrew C. Schaad, Cody E. Moore and A.F. Deskins.
diTrapano
“The allegations in this complaint raise serious concerns about how a person experiencing an obvious mental health crisis was treated by those called to help him,” attorney Dante diTrapano told The West Virginia Record. “The civil justice system provides a way to uncover what happened, hold those allegedly responsible accountable, and expose failures that need to be corrected.
“That is precisely why families like Justin’s must have the opportunity to seek answers and justice through our courts. When serious allegations like these are brought into the light and fully examined, the civil justice system can drive accountability and meaningful change.
“We look forward to standing with Justin’s family as they seek the answers, justice, and accountability they deserve.”
According to the lawsuit, 43-year-old Justin Williamson was in an acute mental health crisis on March 10, 2025, at his mother’s Parkersburg home. The complaint says he had a history of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and was behaving erratically, was naked and had threatened to kill family members.
Janet Williamson called Wood County 911 four times that afternoon seeking help, the lawsuit says. During the first call, at 1:43 p.m., she told dispatchers her son was naked, had schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and had threatened her and other relatives, according to the complaint.
Love, Hubler, Moore and Deskins responded to the home and found Williamson sitting nude in the living room, the lawsuit says. The officers remained for about six minutes, told Janet Williamson that her son should “probably be evaluated,” and left without obtaining medical or mental health services, according to the filing.
She called again shortly afterward, telling dispatchers her son had “lost his mind” and had threatened to kill her and another son, the complaint says. The filing alleges dispatchers advised her to contact Camden Clark Hospital and call back if he became violent.
When Janet Williamson called again at 2:09 p.m., she reported her son had hit her in the face and threatened to kill her, according to the complaint. Love and Hubler returned, found him sitting nude in the living room and concluded there was “no evidence of crime,” advising her to seek a mental hygiene intervention before leaving, the suit says.
The fourth call came at 3:56 p.m., when Janet Williamson pleaded for an immediate response, saying, “Please hurry and get somebody here now ... Please God, please before someone gets killed,” according to the complaint.
Love was the first officer to arrive after that call, the lawsuit says. It alleges he saw Williamson, naked and yelling incoherently, leave the home. The complaint alleges Love had neither a warrant nor probable cause to arrest Williamson but nevertheless pushed him down, punched him in the mouth, beat him in the head and face, used a Taser multiple times and placed him in handcuffs and leg shackles.
The lawsuit alleges Love used the Taser three times in Williamson’s chest, torso and abdomen. Hubler arrived and placed a knee along Williamson’s shoulder area while he was face down on the porch, according to the complaint. Logan and Schaad later arrived and, along with Love and Hubler, continued restraining Williamson while he was handcuffed, the suit alleges.
Williamson was face down, naked and covered in blood and excrement, with Taser probes embedded in his chest, torso and abdomen, the complaint says. It alleges the four officers continued assaulting him while he was handcuffed and unable to resist or assault them.
Love ultimately arrested Williamson on charges of battery of an officer, obstruction and indecent exposure, according to the filing.
While on the porch, Williamson’s face darkened, he lost consciousness and fluid came from his mouth, the lawsuit says. Officers performed CPR, and Love called 911 at about 4:10 p.m. to report Williamson had vomited and aspirated, according to the complaint.
Ambulance personnel arrived about six minutes later and documented a chief complaint of “unresponsive not breathing for 5 minutes,” the lawsuit says. The ambulance report listed acute respiratory distress and injuries described as electric shock and assault, according to the complaint.
Williamson was taken to WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center. Physicians diagnosed cardiac arrest, internal abdominal bleeding, lacerations to the liver and spleen, multiple fractured ribs, fractured nasal bones, head and other contusions, cardiac arrhythmias and electric shock from a Taser, the lawsuit alleges.
He was later flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital and then transferred to Charleston Area Medical Center Memorial Division, where he remained hospitalized through May 9, 2025, according to the complaint. The suit says he now is unresponsive, in a persistent vegetative state, completely ventilator-dependent and requires 24-hour nursing care.
Forbes
“Justin Williamson’s family repeatedly called 911 because he was in an obvious mental health crisis and desperately needed help,” attorney Jesse Forbes told The Record. “Instead of receiving that help, Justin suffered catastrophic injuries, including permanent brain damage, that have left him incapacitated and dependent on a ventilator.
This is a tragedy that should never have happened. His family is seeking justice and accountability for what took place. Accountability matters not only for Justin and his family, but to help make our communities safer and prevent something like this from happening to someone else.”
The complaint alleges all six officers failed to arrange medical or mental health treatment despite the repeated 911 calls and Williamson’s apparent crisis. It specifically accuses Love, Hubler, Logan and Schaad of excessive force and assault and battery, while alleging Hubler, Logan and Schaad had an opportunity to intervene and failed to stop Love’s actions.
The complaint asserts federal civil rights claims alleging deliberate indifference to medical needs, excessive force and bystander liability, as well as state law claims including assault and battery, negligence and failure to train or supervise. It also alleges the city maintained customs, policies or training deficiencies that contributed to the injuries.
The suit also contends Parkersburg inadequately trained and supervised officers in responding to people in mental health crises, using Tasers, providing medical aid and preventing excessive force. It alleges the city maintained policies or customs that tolerated constitutional violations and failed to adequately investigate or discipline officer misconduct.
Janet Williamson seeks damages for past and future medical costs, rehabilitation and nursing care, lost income and services, pain and suffering, emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life. The complaint seeks punitive damages from the individual officers but expressly does not seek punitive damages from the city.
The plaintiffs are being represented by diTrapano, Charles F. Bellomy and Amanda J. Davis of Calwell Luce diTrapano in Charleston and by Forbes, Jennifer Taylor and Michael D. Heidenreich of Forbes Law Offices in Charleston.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia case number 2:26-cv-588
