Lizzie Kaboski

HAMMOND — The sister of a Valparaiso man who died last year after he was restrained by Jasper County police during a seizure filed a lawsuit against the department last month, federal court records show.

Tara Earl, sister of 26-year-old Rhyker Earl, is suing the department and Deputy Dakota Partin for wrongful death, unlawful seizure and indemnification for handcuffing Rhyker Earl and holding him on the ground for more than 20 minutes while he was having a seizure Sept. 8, 2024 inside a DeMotte home.

Tara Earl's attorney, Jared Kosoglad, declined to comment on the lawsuit.

According to a federal complaint, Rhyker Earl's grandmother called for medical assistance while he was having a seizure. The responding paramedic requested additional help from the fire department as w

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