By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
ATF agent William G. Clark, who was accused of using excessive force when he fatally shot a man during a domestic dispute in 2008 in the Virgin Islands, was cleared of wrong doing by a jury Thursday in a civil trial in U.S. District Court in the Virgin Islands.
ATF Special Agent William G. Clark “took immediate action to defend himself and others by discharging his firearm to stop the attack,” said Thomas Brandon, ATF deputy director, in a written statement issued Thursday.
The estate of the deceased man, Marcus Sukow, was suing Clarke and ATF, alleging that Clark used excessive force. Sukow was unarmed, but Clark said he posed an immediate danger. The estate seeking punitive and compensatory damage.
In 2010, a Virgin Island Superior Court judge dismissed the criminal charges. The criminal charges created a lot of tension between the island and ATF.
“The threat to personal safety that law enforcement employees carry every day to make communities safer and confront violent criminals is very serious,” ATF’s Brandon said. “ATF remains unwavering in its efforts to protect the American people and to reduce the impact of violent crime. We look forward to working with our local and federal partners in the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
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