Owner of cabin where Dorner died files damage claim with county
San Bernardino County is considering claims seeking reimbursement for damages to the Big Bear-area cabin where fugitive Christopher Dorner died after a shootout with officers.
Cabin owner Candy Martin of Palmdale and her son Eric Funnell are seeking $420,000 and $10,000, respectively, from the county, according to the claim documents.
A lawsuit can only be filed if the claims are rejected by the county, said county spokesman David Wert.
Funnell declined to comment, saying, “We’re right in the throes of it all.”
The incident occurred Feb. 12, when authorities chasing Dorner followed him to the cabin. Deputies surrounded the area and used smoke bombs to provide cover for two who had been wounded.
Martin and Funnell stated in their claims that their personal property was “unnecessarily destroyed” when officials deployed tear gas canisters that allegedly caused a fire.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department “stood by and made no effort to extinguish the fire,” the claims read, which led to damage of both the structure and personal property within.
The claims were filed May 31, according to documents.
ALSO:
Idyllwild evacuated as Mountain fire rages
Marine from Camp Pendleton to be freed in killing of Iraqi
Mother starved 4-year-old child who weighed 18 pounds, police say
Twitter: @emfoxhall
emily.foxhall@latimes.com
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.