Oct 18, 2013 3 min read

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. – A West Virginia man who says he was abused by a Parkersburg police officer while in custody was shot by the same lawman five years ago during a standoff.

John Sadler Jr., 24, of Parkersburg claims he was choked and punched while handcuffed and being processed for a DUI arrest in August, according to the Parkersburg News and Sentinel.

Arrest reports from the incident identify the officer as Parkersburg police Sgt. Jay Hart.

In 2008, Hart shot Sadler during a standoff, the newspaper reported.

Attorney Paul Morrison, who is representing Sadler in a possible civil suit, said the history between the two men might have been a factor in the Aug. 13 incident.

“It is my understanding Mr. Sadler did not recognize Officer Hart until he read his name tag during the processing,” Morrison said. “That is when he (Sadler) stood up,” and was allegedly assaulted.

The 2008 incident occurred after Sadler allegedly became upset with his father and his father’s girlfriend and threatened to kill them.

According to court records, Sadler called 911 and said he had guns and a knife and threatened to kill someone and later to kill himself.

According to the 2008 criminal complaint, Sadler left his home with a loaded shotgun and a loaded rifle and a large knife and began walking down a street. Hart ordered Sadler to put down his weapons, but Sadler pointed the shotgun at Hart in a firing position, the complaint said. Hart fired his weapon, striking Sadler, it said.

An internal investigation concluded Hart was justified in shooting Sadler.

In 2009, Sadler pleaded guilty to two counts of wanton endangerment with a firearm. He was paroled in late 2012 after serving more than three years of a five-year sentence.

An arrest record stemming from Sadler’s arrest this past August includes a Use of Force report and narrative completed by Hart. The officer details both use of “pressure points” on Sadler’s neck and a hard strike to Sadler’s abdomen.

Parkersburg’s police chief says the officer has been reassigned to administrative duties.

Video released this week by Sadler’s lawyer shows a confrontation between Sadler and Hart, with Hart several times placing his hands on Sadler’s throat, punching him once in the abdomen and taking him on the floor in an apparent choke hold.

Another officer was in the room during the incident but did not appear to participate.

Parkersburg police launched an internal investigation. Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Jason Wharton has asked the West Virginia State Police to investigate the incident.