Family of released inmate sues BIA for his death

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Jul 23, 2008 at 4:13 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jul 23, 2008 at 4:13 PM MDT

GREAT FALLS - The family of a Browning man who froze to death in February 2007 is suing the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the federal government for $20 million.

In a federal court lawsuit filed Wednesday, the plaintiffs allege law enforcement was negligent when they released William West Wolf from jail at 2 a.m. in frigid temperatures. A receptionist at the BIA district office in Billings said no senior officials were available to comment Wednesday afternoon.

West Wolf was arrested for public intoxication around 5 p.m. on Feb. 10. As is BIA policy he was held eight hours and then released. The lawsuit says he still had a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit and walked toward home with the temperature just 3 degrees. He died four blocks from the jail and his body was found six days later.

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