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We're taking a closer look at a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the widow of a Vanderburgh County deputy sheriff.
She claims a training exercise called "the big fight" ultimately led to Deputy Asson Hacker's death.
Our NBC affiliate in Evansville, WFIE-TV, obtained video of the exercise.
According to WFIE, the big fight exercise is mandatory for all law enforcement trainees in southwest Indiana. It is supposed to test their ability to hold their own if they get into a fight on the job.
In March 2023, Hacker was one of 60 trainees to step into the ring at the Southwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
The video shows Hacker fighting with another officer. It ends with Hacker lying on his back.
The lawsuit claims there were obvious signs Hacker needed immediate medical assistance, but that it wasn't provided for a significant period of time.
Hacker's cause of death was determined to be a complication from a sickle cell trait.
MORE: https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/lawsuit-filed-in-death-of-vanderburgh-county-sheriffs-deputy-asson-hacker-police/531-1d33d249-38d3-488a-9aac-8483534598a6