Family suing Hamilton Police board, chief, officers, city

The family of a man shot and killed by Hamilton Police two years ago is suing for more than $4 million. Lawsuits have been filed against several police officers, Hamilton’s police chief, the police board and the city of Hamilton.

Phonesay Chanthachack, 27, was shot driving a stolen van in east Hamilton when he tried to drive through a police barricade. The officer who fired the fatal shot was constable Ryan Tocher, who has since been cleared by the SIU.

Two separate lawsuits have been filed. Among the allegations are claims that the attempted arrest of Chanthachack was unsafe; that officers didn’t properly identify themselves; and Tocher wasn’t properly screened to ensure he was competent to be a police officer.