Allen County Council votes pay Gladieux settlement with taxpayer money

The Allen County Council agreed on Thursday to use taxpayer dollars to settle a lawsuit against Allen County Sheriff David Gladieux regarding an incident at a festival where he is accused of pushing a teenage volunteer out of his way.

Petroviak.

Thanks for joining us.a reluctant decision as allen county council votes five to two to pay for a settlement in the lawsuit against sheriff david gladieux.

Fox 55's jentill neal tells us the reasoning behind the decision.

Jentill?hunter, this is the lawsuit filed on behalf of a teen volunteer who says the sheriff pushed him at the three rivers festival.

Today county council members voted to settle the suit with taxpayers money.

Even though it was not an easy decision- they say it's going to save money down the line.

County councilwoman shelia campbell curry says it was not an easy decision.> 00:00:51-00:00:57"we were put in a pickle.

That's why we're writing that letter to him to reimburse."in a 5 to 2 vote the council approved settling the lawsuit against sheriff david gladieux lawsuit with taxpayers money.

00:02:42-00:02:51"paying $55,000 right now just to settle with these people and poof be done with it is just the better thing to do."the lawsuit was filed by the family of a 15-year-old volunteer who says the off- duty sheriff pushed him to the ground during the three rivers festival last year.

In a court document, the family asked for 300,000 dollars in medical costs, emotional distress and other damages.the county voted last month to settle -- otherwise the case would have gone to trial.

A letter released today by county council president joel benz reads, in part: "asking citizens of allen county to fund the settlement, was in view of myself and the entire council as discussed in our meeting.... repugnant."even though council can't make him pay back the money ... council members hope he will.> 00:01:34-00:01:44"you can't make him, but you can send him a letter and ask him to do the right thing.

Man up.

Do the right thing."

We reached out to attorney kal miller who is representing gladieux about the decision and have not heard back yet.reporting live in fort wayne, jentill neal fox 55 news.