West Virginia State Police Settle $1 Million Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Edmond Exline Case

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The West Virginia State Police have agreed to a $1 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Edmond Exline, a 45-year-old Maryland man who died in police custody in February 2023. The Journal+6Beckley Register-Herald+6AP News+6

Incident Overview

On February 12, 2023, Exline was walking along Interstate 81 near Martinsburg when three state troopers confronted him. According to the lawsuit, the troopers tackled and handcuffed Exline, used a Taser to subdue him, and physically assaulted him. After Exline became unresponsive, the troopers placed him in the back of a cruiser. Upon realizing his unresponsive state, they administered Narcan multiple times, despite no evidence of a narcotics overdose. WV MetroNews+11AP News+11West Virginia Record+11AP News+7West Virginia Record+7West Virginia Record+7

Exline was transported to Berkeley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:31 p.m. WV News+3West Virginia Record+3West Virginia Record+3

Legal Proceedings and Settlement

The lawsuit, filed by Exline's son, alleged excessive force, unlawful detention, and other violations of civil rights. Kanawha County Circuit Judge Kenneth Ballard approved the $1 million settlement on July 9, 2024. The Journal+7West Virginia Record+7WV MetroNews+7

A special prosecutor presented the case to a Berkeley County grand jury, seeking involuntary manslaughter indictments for the three troopers involved. However, the grand jury declined to indict. West Virginia Record+5WV MetroNews+5Dominion Post+5The Journal

Public and Official Response

Governor Jim Justice viewed the police video of the incident and described it as "very, very concerning." The video has not been publicly released due to ongoing investigations. West Virginia Record+4https://www.wsaz.com+4Beckley Register-Herald+4

The incident has prompted broader scrutiny of the West Virginia State Police, including investigations into other allegations of misconduct within the agency. WVNSTV

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