Father of man killed by police officer sues Mt. Pleasant, Smith townships
Several officials from Mt. Pleasant and Smith townships are being sued by the father of a Coraopolis man who was shot and killed by a Mt. Pleasant police officer in 2023.
Washington attorney Noah Geary filed the lawsuit in federal court Monday on behalf of Eduardo Lee Hoover Sr., who is the administrator of his son’s estate. Named as plaintiffs are Mt. Pleasant Officer Tyler Evans, Mt. Pleasant Chief of Police Matthew Tharp, Smith Township Officer Michael Pasquale, Smith Township Chief of Police Bernie Larue, and the boards of supervisors for both municipalities.
Evans shot and killed Eduardo Lee Hoover Jr., 38, following an April 2, 2023, chase that ended in Washington.
Hoover Sr. is seeking a jury trial to determine if Evans and Pasquale violated his son’s Fourth Amendment rights with unreasonable deadly force. He is also seeking to hold the police chiefs and elected officials liable for alleged failure to properly train police officers, the lawsuit states.
When reached by phone Tuesday morning, Smith Township solicitor Michael Cruny said he had yet to receive a copy of the suit.
“No comment at this point until I am able to see the lawsuit,” Cruny said.
Mt. Pleasant Township solicitor Thomas McDermott did not return a phone call before Tuesday’s deadline.
According to the lawsuit, police began pursuing Hoover Jr. after a 911 caller reported he was driving recklessly. Court records state that he was traveling south on Route 18 from Burgettstown toward Washington.
Geary writes in the lawsuit that the chase reached speeds of 80 mph and lasted about 17 minutes. According to the court filing, Hoover’s blood-alcohol content was found to be 0.279, well beyond the legal limit.
“As Hoover reached Jefferson Avenue in the City of Washington, Hoover slowed down at least (two) times to accommodate other vehicles in traffic, which demonstrated a concern for the safety of others,” the lawsuit reads.
Hoover was accused by police of attempting to maneuver around the blockade, striking Evans’ vehicle while in reverse. Pasquale fired two shots toward the engine of the pickup truck in a failed attempt to disable it. Evans stepped out of his vehicle and fired two shots that hit Hoover in the back of the head and neck.
The lawsuit states that Hoover was unarmed and made no threats of violence, and calls Pasquale’s decision to shoot at the engine an unnecessary escalation.
The suit claims this caused Hoover to panic and accelerate forward, striking a telephone pole, and then “slowly” backing up to move around the pole.
“From the speed of his vehicle when backing up and the way he maneuvered his vehicle while backing up the second time, it was clear that Hoover had no intention of striking Evans’ vehicle a second time, or any other police unit. Defendant Evans, however, left the safety of his unit, stepped out and fired (two) shots to the head and neck of Hoover, killing Hoover,” Geary writes in the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, Hoover was married with three children. His father is seeking to have a jury award damages for pain and suffering, his estimated future earnings and funeral expenses.
In the weeks following the shooting, Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh called the shooting justified and stated “officers were left with no alternative.”
However, in October 2023, Washington County Coroner Timothy Warco held an inquest into Hoover’s death and came to the conclusion that Evans should be charged with involuntary manslaughter.
That led to an escalating legal feud between Walsh and Warco. Walsh obtained search warrants to retrieve investigatory documents from Warco’s office in Washington, and the Carnegie office of attorney Timothy Uhrich.
Washington County Judge Michael Lucas issued a stay in December 2023, pausing the legal dispute between the county offices.