CASS COUNTY SUED FOR WRONGFUL DEATH

Cass County Sheriff Randy Fisher and the rest of the county has been sued by the heirs of a man who hanged himself in the county jail. 47-year old Thomas VanKleeck had been charged with robbing the Backus branch of the First National Bank of Walker three years ago. The suspect was placed on a suicide watch and checked every 15 minutes but jailers found him dead and were not able to revive him. Officials told the Brainerd Dispatch VanKleeck's heirs are asking for damages in excess of $50,000.