Pubdate: Fri, 27 Dec 2002
Source: Parkersburg Sentinel, The (WV)
Copyright: 2002, The Parkersburg Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.newsandsentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1647
Author: Evan Bevins
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

FATHER IN SEARCH OF TRUTH ABOUT SON'S DEATH

The father of Bryan Paul Causey, who died Dec. 18 after being shot by a 
member of the Parkersburg Violent Crimes and Narcotics Task Force following 
a controlled drug buy, has contacted an attorney regarding his son's death.

Larue Causey of St. Albans declined to name his attorney. He said he wants 
to learn the truth about the circumstances surrounding his son's death. "I 
will know," Larue Causey said. "I will find out exactly what happened 
before it's over with.

"I will know the truth."

The News and Sentinel has learned private investigators hired by a law firm 
are in Wood County investigating the case. It is not known if these 
investigators are connected to Larue Causey's attorney.

Bryan Causey died around 4:30 p.m. Dec. 18. The official cause of death has 
not been released, but preliminary information from a Dec. 19 autopsy 
performed in Charleston indicated a piece of a bullet fired from the duty 
weapon of a task force member had lodged in his heart. The bullet 
fragmented after entering the upper left portion of Brian Causey's chest, 
said Wood County Prosecutor Ginny Conley.

According to information released by Conley, officers in clothing clearly 
identifying them as law enforcement agents attempted to stop Bryan Causey's 
truck. Causey was allegedly driving the vehicle away from a controlled drug 
buy at a Kittle Street residence in Mullenix Addition. Bryan Causey 
attempted to drive his truck around a blockade consisting of marked and 
unmarked police vehicles and became stuck in a ditch, Conley said. After 
freeing the vehicle, he allegedly pointed it at police officers on foot and 
drove toward them.

At that point, an unidentified task force agent fired a single shot from 
his duty weapon, striking Bryan Causey, Conley said. The car continued 
north on West Virginia 31, striking three civilian vehicles before going 
off the road.

Materials associated with the manufacture of methamphetamines were found in 
the back of the truck, Conley said.

Conley said Thursday she was not aware Larue Causey had contacted an attorney.

Larue Causey said Bryan was in Wood County to pick up a Corvette Bryan 
owned. Lucy Rhodes, arrested at the scene on a felony charge of conspiracy 
to manufacture meth, accompanied Bryan Causey, whom she had been seeing for 
a year-and-a-half, Larue Causey said.

Owners of Perry's Alignment and Auto Service confirmed that a Corvette 
owned by Bryan Causey is at the shop and Bryan Causey attempted to get the 
car out at some point before the shooting. He was told he did not have 
enough money to pay for it, one of the owners said.

They declined to say how long the car had been at the shop.

Rhodes declined an interview last week.

Larue Causey said the past week has been the most difficult of his life. He 
and Bryan were "very close," he said.

On Sunday, Larue Causey took Bryan's son, Bryan Robert Causey, 10, to 
Bryan's funeral.

The 10-year-old did not live with his father, but Larue Causey said the two 
were still in contact. Larue Causey said the boy is not doing very well in 
the wake of his father's death.
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