Federal wrongful death lawsuit filed against SCSO

The family of a man who died days after an “active shooter” incident at Bristol Regional Medical Center in May 2024 have sued the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office and multiple officers in federal court. The suit alleges that officers mistook a mental health crisis for a drug-induced high and escalated their force against Matthew Stoddard. The lawsuit claims wrongful death, outrageous conduct and intentional infliction of emotional distress, assault and battery and a host of other counts, including excessive force that violated multiple constitutional rights. The lawsuit says the autopsy found the manner of death as homicide and that it “identified that Mr. Stoddard became unresponsive after officers were attempting to restrain him while prone.”