Parents sue South Salt Lake over son's death

The parents of a 39-year-old man shot and killed by South Salt Lake police just over two years ago are suing police and the city.

Officers were cleared in the shooting of Ross Sullivan, who was killed during a police stand-off outside the South Salt Lake man's apartment. When police followed Sullivan back into his apartment, he allegedly swung at officers with a decorative sword and was shot.

The parents' suit, filed Jan. 21, says police and South Salt Lake were negligent and that their actions led to the wrongful death of Ross Sullivan.

Police responded to the apartment complex at 256 E. Helm St. (about 3640 South) just before 11 a.m. on Jan. 21, 2008, on a call that a man was throwing a TV set and other items off the balcony of his apartment and banging a sword against the railing.

Sullivan locked himself inside his apartment, and a SWAT team surrounded the building. Police negotiators spent 90 minutes trying to persuade Sullivan to come outside, police reported at the time.

Sullivan's parents, Valerie Holgers and Michael Sullivan, say in the lawsuit that their son had requested to talk to his girlfriend. Police were allegedly told by the victim's girlfriend that Ross Sullivan was alone in the apartment, had no guns and was not a violent person.

Sullivan's parents claim that he was afraid of guns and was told by negotiator Sgt. Steve Daniels that if he came outside he would not be harmed. Also, they say that the victim's girlfriend saw him make eye contact with her and smile at her through the window before stepping outside with his hands raised in the air.

Police shot at him with a Taser, and he fled back into his apartment, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit says a witness reported police were growing tired of waiting for Sullivan to come outside and that, according to a police report, they had previously decided "they would deploy the Taser and take him into custody any way possible."

When the victim fled into the apartment, officers followed and broke down the door. The victim allegedly attacked with a decorative sword, striking one of the officers but not injuring him, before being shot five times. Sullivan was pronounced dead on the scene.

Sullivan's parents allege in the lawsuit that one officer, Jason Rasmussen, shot their son even after the sword was knocked from his hand and he posed no danger.

In the lawsuit, the parents request attorney's fees, economic and non-economic damage for mental distress, anguish and suffering and punitive damages against the individual defendants, which include South Salt Lake, the police department, Police Chief Chris Snyder, Daniels, officers Ryan Cram, Brittan Heddleston, Scott McBride, Louie Muniz and Rasmussen.

e-mail: lgroves@desnews.com