Federal Judge Dismisses Excessive Force Lawsuit Against Hazard Police

A federal judge entered an order on Jan. 2 dismissing all claims against the Hazard Police Department, former Police Chief Darren Williams, and officer Tyler Pigman, stating the case was dismissed with prejudice and “each party to bear their own costs and attorney’s fees. This matter shall be stricken from the docket.” The dismissal followed a settlement between the department, the two officers and plaintiffs Martha Sizemore and Billy Gavin Fugate. Court filings did not disclose the terms of the settlement.

The lawsuit originated in March 2024 when Fugate was arrested at his home. Court documents describe the scene after Williams was called to the residence: Williams encountered Fugate along with members of his family and Sizemore, and his demeanor was hostile from the outset. The complaint said Williams’ questioning continued to be “hostile and belligerent.” When Fugate said he would no longer answer questions and rose from his seat to speak to other officers, the complaint alleges Williams grabbed Fugate by the throat and forced him back onto a couch “without any justification for the application of that level of force.”

The filing further alleges that Officer Pigman joined in applying excessive force and acted “without justification, against Fugate and the members of Fugate’s family seated on the couch with Fugate while leveling threats of additional violence against Fugate.” The complaint also states that after Sizemore pleaded that Fugate had done nothing, Pigman pulled out his service taser and aimed it at Fugate’s face, with Williams and others witnessing the action. The lawsuit charged that Williams and Pigman did not “act in the way they are supposed to act.”

Williams was removed from his post as Hazard’s Police Chief in 2024. With the civil case now concluded by settlement and the federal court’s dismissal, the legal dispute between the parties is over and cannot be refiled. However, the absence of disclosed settlement terms leaves unanswered questions for residents about accountability, departmental discipline and any measures taken to prevent similar incidents.

For Perry County residents, the case highlights ongoing concerns about police conduct, transparency and community trust. The dismissal ends the courtroom phase of the dispute, but local leaders, oversight bodies and citizens may continue to press for clarity on policy changes, training and independent review to ensure that interactions between law enforcement and the public meet constitutional and community standards.