JOHN DAY â A sheriffâs deputy who was fired before entering a plea on criminal charges is suing Grant County and several employees.
Former Grant County Sheriffâs Office deputy Tyler Smith claims the county and its employees violated his constitutional rights under the First and 14th amendments, retaliated against him as a whistleblower and wrongfully discharged him from employment in a complaint filed Dec. 21, 2020, in U.S. District Court in Pendleton.
In addition to the county, the suit names former Sheriff Glenn Palmer, District Attorney Jim Carpenter, Undersheriff Zach Mobley and former deputy Abigail Mobley as defendants and seeks damages for lost wages and distress as well as punitive damages and attorney fees.