Opinion ID: 557349
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Durbin Incident

Text: 3 Early on the morning of June 29, 1985 as Doug Durbin returned home from a local tavern, Deputy Ray Sowers followed him and waited outside of Durbin's home. Deputy Tom Furrer later arrived as backup. Sowers, flicking an electric stun gun on and off, ordered Durbin out of his house. Durbin, who complied, was arrested for drunk driving. After taking one step toward his house, the two deputies tackled Durbin and threw him to the ground. Though Durbin never attempted to resist, Sowers began to beat him on the back of his head with his fist. In the patrol car on the way to the jail Sowers slammed on the brakes, causing Durbin, who was handcuffed and thus defenseless, to smash into the screen with his face. 4 Durbin was charged with driving while intoxicated 1 , resisting arrest and obstructing an officer. Yet after Durbin signed a Release and Satisfaction against Mason County, the charges against him were dismissed.