Idaho Statesman | IdahoStatesman.com
IDAHO JUNE 27, 2016 3:57 PM No charges in Yantis shooting
State and federal prosecutors in Idaho say there is insufficient evidenct to convict the two Adams County sheriff’s deputies involved in the fatal shooting Nov. 1 of rancher Jack Yantis on the highway in front of his ranch. A “Justice for Jack” banner sits out front of Jack Yantis’ ranch Friday, July 29. Idaho AG Lawrence Wasden describes the Yantis shooting scene 2:02
This image of Jack Yantis’ rifle is one of the many documents compiled as part of the investigation. A “Justice for Jack” sign sits in the window of a Council business Friday, July 29. In March, protesters in Council called for a more transparent investigation into the death of rancher Jack Yantis. Mourners filled the gymnasium at Council High School on Nov. 15 for a memorial service honoring Jack Yantis. Rowdy Paradis, the nephew of Jack Yantis, works on the family farm in Council. “It was a needless murder,” Paradis said of his uncle’s death. Adams County Sheriff Ryan Zollman Adams County resident Jack Yantis died on this federal highway, U.S. 95, right in front of his ranch north of Council. The Yantis family farm is located about 6 miles north of Council. Adams County Sheriff Ryan Zollman was interviewed by Boise TV reporters after a town hall meeting on Jack Yantis’ death. About 40 percent of Idaho’s 53.5 million total acres is open range. Drivers are responsible for damage caused when livestock are struck on open range. This is the Subaru that collided dead-center with Jack Yantis’ bull, which a tow-truck driver estimated to weigh more than a ton. Council, Idaho, on Friday, July 29. A “Justice for Jack” banner sits out front of Jack Yantis’ ranch Friday, July 29. Idaho AG Lawrence Wasden describes the Yantis shooting scene 2:02
1 of 14 i BY KATY MOELLER AND JOHN SOWELL newsroom@idahostatesman.com
LINKEDIN GOOGLE+ PINTEREST REDDIT PRINT ORDER REPRINT OF THIS STORY Two Adams County sheriff’s deputies will not face criminal charges in the death of a 62- year-old rancher, the Idaho Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Friday. “There is no other way to describe what happend that day as anything but tragic and unfortunate for the Yantis family and the entire community,” Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said. “It is my hope that in the weeks and months ahead, the community can heal and rebuild trust.” Jack Yantis was shot to death on the highway in front of his ranch on a Sunday night, Nov. 1 — a shocking turn of events following a crash involving a car and livestock on the road. Called to the scene by first-responders to deal with an injured bull, the lifelong rancher was shot by sheriff’s deputies after he walked down his driveway with a rifle to shoot the bull. “This (was) a catastrophic five minutes,” Wasden said Friday.
There were conflicting accounts and insufficient evidence to support filing criminal charges, he said, in a case that “presented certain legal and ethical challenges.” Yantis had a blood alcohol level of .104 percent, the investigative report said. A level of .08 percent is considered intoxicated for motorists in Idaho. Wasden said “there’s nothing illegal about that in terms of being at his house.” Wasden and his staff reviewed 5,300 pages of reports, lab results, witness statements and other materials concerning the shooting of Yantis by Deputies Brian Wood and Cody Roland. Both deputies said Yantis pointed his rifle toward Roland and fired. Both deputies returned fire, striking Yantis 12 times, according to the Attorney General’s Office. He was struck once in the chest, eight times in his upper extremities and three times to the abdomen.
The wound to the chest, from a .223-caliber Remington semi-automatic rifle fired by Wood, was fatal, the report said. The round entered Yantis’ chest on the right side and traveled upward and to the left. The bullet pierced both lungs, fragmented in the aorta and lodged in the back. Adams County Sheriff Ryan Zollman said he learned about the decisions not to file charges from a Facebook posting by The Idaho Statesman shortly after 9 a.m. “I know nothing more than what I am reading from the Attorney General’s Office,” Zollman said. “Due to the fact that there is civil litigation, I have been advised not to discuss details at this time.” He said no decision has been made on whether the two deputies will return to work or when. He said they will have to be cleared psychologically, a standard protocol at all law enforcement agencies.
“There is a process. It will be weeks before that decision is made, which will be based on many factors,” Zollman said. A man at the Yantis home north of Council said the family did not have any immediate comment. The family later said its attorney would release a statement later Friday.
Wasden announces no charges in Yantis shooting Two Adams County sheriff’s deputies won’t face criminal charges in the death of a 62- year-old rancher, the Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said Friday. Katherine Jones kjones@idahostatesman.com The bull, which Roland told dispatchers was “getting more agitated,” was struck at least six times from gunshots. The shots, fired by Wood before Yantis arrived at the scene, injured the bull but did not kill him. Wasden said it was unclear who shot first in the gunfire between the deputies and Yantis. “We do not know who fired initially. Anyone could have fired first. We honestly don't know the answer to that question,” Wasden said during a press conference Friday morning. Wood fired 16 shots. Roland, armed with a .45-caliber Glock handgun, fired four times. Investigators also found a .20-caliber round at the scene, and Yantis’ .204-caliber rifle had an empty shell casing in the chamber. An FBI ballistics expert who tested the .20- caliber round could not conclusively establish that the bullet came from Yantis’ rifle. Blood on the round was tested and found to be that of Yantis, the report said. Both deputies tested negative for drugs and alcohol.
Wasden said his office was “ethically bound not to file charges.” He added, “I'm not saying the actions by the deputies were justifiable nor that they were not justifiable.” Wasden released to the public the investigative file compiled by the Idaho State Police and prosecutors in the Attorney General’s Criminal Division, as well as letters sent Friday to the Adams County prosecutor and attorneys for the Yantis family. The documents are available for viewing online.
Donna Yantis interviewed in ambulance after shooting Donna Yantis, the wife of rancher Jack Yantis, had a heart attack after her husband was shot. Some time later, she was taken by ambulance to Midvale and then by helicopter to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise. Officials interviewed her abou Provided by Idaho State Police Through information provided by their attorneys, wife Donna Yantis and her nephew, Rowdy Paradis, told the Statesman last fall that they saw the shooting and believe it was unjustified. Donna, who said she was thrown to the ground and handcuffed, suffered a heart attack soon after. She was hospitalized for a while. THEY TOOK A FAMILY MAN FROM THE DINNER TABLE AND SLAUGHTERED HIM. Rowdy Paradis said two days after his uncle was fatally shot by deputies
An attorney for the deputies later said the family’s account is “not accurate in numerous material respects.” About 500 people attended a memorial service for Yantis at Council High School. The 1971 Council High grad was remembered as a standout on the high school football team, a hardworking rancher and devoted family man. The deputies involved — Wood and Roland — have been on paid leave since the incident, and they are both still living in the area, said Sheriff Ryan Zollman. The sheriff wanted to bring them back to work at the small department while the investigation proceeded, but the county’s insurer advised against it. Law enforcement officers in Idaho have shot and killed at least 54 people in the line of duty in the past 15 years. Officers were cleared in 50 of those deaths; four remain under investigation. Both state and federal law enforcement officials investigated the circumstances surrounding Yantis’ death. On March 10, about four months after the shooting, the Idaho State Police turned its report over to Wasden’s office to review for possible charges. Critics among the public questioned the length of the investigation, and occasional protests and rallies continued into May. As part of their investigation into the incident, ISP officials said they interviewed more than 40 people, examined physical evidence and reviewed forensic lab reports.
A crash in open range Yantis’ fatal encounter with deputies occurred in the hour following the 6:45 p.m. car-versus-bull crash. The bull was hit about 6 miles north of Council, a town of about 800 that’s a two-hour drive north of Boise.
The area where the crash occurred is open range, where cattle may roam freely. A Subaru traveling south on the highway struck Yantis’ bull. The two occupants of the vehicle were taken by air ambulance to a Boise hospital. Nampa newlyweds Jack and Doris Garner suffered critical injuries but were back home in Nampa by Thanksgiving. Yantis was summoned down to the highway by an emergency dispatcher to take care of his injured bull. Donna Yantis and Rowdy Paradis said Jack Yantis was aiming his rifle at the back of the bull’s head when one of the deputies grabbed him from behind, swung him around and the other deputy opened fire. The prosecutors’ decision not to file charges does not prohibit the family from suing. In April, the Yantis family filed a tort claim against the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Wood and Roland, citing wrongful death, assault, false imprisonment and emotional distress. A tort claim is a precursor required by Idaho law to filing a lawsuit against a county or government agency.
"Justice for Jack" Yantis supporters rally for answers Around a half-dozen people — plus around 10 media members — turned out for the start of the rally, with more supporters reportedly on the way from Adams County. The group later grew to about a dozen Yantis supporters. Kyle Green kgreen@idahostatesman.com Protests and national attention The fatal shooting sparked public outcry. Critics of the deputies’ actions organized online, including through a Facebook page called “Justice for Jack.” Protesters carrying “Justice for Jack” signs marched through the streets of Council in November and in March, and visited the Idaho Attorney General’s Office in May. The officer-involved shooting drew attention from national media, including the New York Times. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office was deluged with angry, threatening calls and emails. A crisis management team was brought in to help the department continue to operate, and community leaders called for calm and patience during the investigation. Questions arose as to whether the shooting was caught on video — from a vehicle dash camera or from deputies’ body cameras. Wasden said there is no body camera or dash camera video. Zollman has said the dash camera on a police vehicle at the scene wasn’t on, and he turned over the deputies’ body cameras to Idaho State Police investigators without looking at them. I CAN’T CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT IN ADAMS COUNTY — EVEN ANSWERING THAT QUESTION COULD AFFECT THE INVESTIGATION ISP spokeswoman Teresa Baker told the Statesman in November.
Tempers flared at a standing-room-only town hall meeting that Zollman held in November at a Council church, but the proceedings concluded peacefully — even though many left unsatisfied with the sheriff’s answers.
Protesters demand transparency after Idaho rancher's death Protesters marched in Council in solidarity with the family of Jack Yantis, a rancher who was shot to death by deputies in November. The organizers said they hoped to see the deputies involved go to prison and to see a new candidate run for sheriff. Erin Fenner efenner@idahostatesman.com About the deputies The sheriff initially held off on releasing the names of the deputies involved in the shooting, citing concerns for their safety. On Nov. 30, he confirmed those names. There is no national standard for releasing the names of officers involved in shootings or other serious incidents. Deputy Brian Wood had worked for two law enforcement agencies prior to being hired at the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. According to state Peace Officer Standards and Training records, the McCall Police Department terminated Wood’s employment in November 2011 after 78-year-old Rodney Whaley sued Wood and the city, claiming that Wood had used excessive force during a traffic stop. A judge dismissed an obstruction charge filed against Whaley after the stop; Whaley’s federal lawsuit was settled in April 2012. No details of the settlement were available in public records. Wood was hired by the Adams County sheriff in June 2013. Wood’s father, Steve, told the Statesman the Yantis shooting weighed heavily on his son, but his son felt his actions that night were justified. Soon after that, on Dec. 7, Brian Wood went on Facebook to express his feelings: “The last five weeks have been the most trying of my life. I’d elaborate, but I’ve come to realize I don’t need to because I’m not experiencing this alone, I’m not hurting alone. You have shown me that you love me, that you trust me, and that you are hurting with me,” the message began. Online rumors have continued to swirl around Wood this year. A leaked internal Ada County Sheriff’s Office bulletin from January said Wood’s in-laws in Meridian had requested extra patrols during a separation between Wood and his wife. By May, the Ada County Sheriff’s Office had not had any related calls for service to the addresses mentioned in the bulletin. Adams Sheriff Zollman said the information had come in part from a former Adams County lieutenant acting on his own. Deputy Cody Roland had worked for six Idaho law enforcement agencies in the past 15 years, joining Adams County full time just four months before the shooting. He previously worked for the Canyon and Valley county sheriff’s offices and the Gooding, Parma and Wilder police departments. In August 2007, Valley County Sheriff Patti Bolen presented Roland with a presidential commendation for volunteer work he did while with the Gooding Police Department. Yantis had a prior run-in with sheriff’s deputies in the late 1990s, according to court records. Little information on that incident, which resulted in a resisting and obstructing charge, was available in the court file.
Protesters march against the shooting of Council rancher Jack Yantis Joe Jaszewski jjaszewski@idahostatesman.com The case and this year’s elections Zollman, who was elected sheriff in 2012, is up for re-election in November. He’s filed to run again as a Republican, according to the clerk’s office. This fall, he’ll be challenged by Council resident Thomas Watts, a former Nevada sheriff’s deputy who had been considering a run for public office for about a year. “Long before the shooting,” he told the Statesman in April. “That had no effect on it.” Watts, who moved to Adams County in 2012, has filed as an independent. His work experience includes two decades as a deputy with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department in Nevada and private security for mining companies. He said he wants to build trust between the department and residents, and his plan to do that would include having deputies interact with kids at schools and on the street. He also wants to get more highly-trained people in positions that pay $14 an hour by recruiting retired officers from other states. The sheriff’s office has 10 officers, including the sheriff, undersheriff, seven road deputies and a resident deputy in Hells Canyon.
Wood makes 2011 arrest This dash-cam video, provided by the McCall Police Department after a public records request, provides mostly audio of the arrest of Rodney (Tom) Whaley, of Cascade for speeding by Officer Brian Wood on July 6, 2011. Whaley, who was 78, was initially ch Katy Moeller: 208-377-6413, @KatyMoeller KEY PARTICIPANTS Jack Yantis: Longtime Council logger and rancher. Brian Wood: Adams County deputy, one of two involved in the shooting. Cody Roland: Adams County deputy, one of two involved in the shooting. Donna Yantis: Wife of Jack Yantis. She witnessed the shooting and had a heart attack at the scene. Rowdy Paradis: Jack’s nephew who went down to the crash site to help his uncle kill the bull. Joe Rumsey: A family friend and veterinarian who was at Yantis’ house when the car hit the bull. Ryan Zollman: Adams County sheriff, elected in 2012. Jack and Doris Garner: Driver and passenger in the Subaru that hit the Yantis’ bull. The Nampa newlyweds suffered critical injuries in the Nov. 1 crash, but were back home by Thanksgiving. Kiefer: Jack Yantis’ bull. -Cynthia Sewell RELATED CONTENT Idaho AG Lawrence Wasden describes the Yantis shooting scene
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Poster Comment:
Ecclesiastes Chapter 5:7-8 "If thou shalt see the oppressions of the poor, and violent judgments, and justice perverted in the province, wonder not at this matter: for he that is high hath another higher, and there are others still higher than these: Moreover there is the king that reigneth over all the land subject to him"