Jay Ostrem, 64, was jailed on $1 million cash-only bond on three counts of first degree murder following a shooting on Memorial Day.
Ostrem had previously worked in law enforcement for more than two decades in Wyoming and South Dakota.
While working for the police department in Gillette, Wyoming, Ostrem had two lawsuits filed against him concerning his use of force.
In 2000 Patrick Wayne Dalby, who was the suspect in the robbery of a clothing store, filed a suit claiming unnecessary force.
Dalby claimed that Ostrem hit him with the butt of a semi-automatic rifle which caused him to lose his left eye while arresting him in April 1999.Â
His original complaint, seen by DailyMail.com, says that Ostrem struck him several times around the back, head, face and eye with the rifle and fired two shots.
District Judge Clarence Brimmer went on to side with Ostrem, ruling that Ostrem had acted in an ‘objectively reasonable manner’.
Dalby was sentenced to 15 to 35 years for robbery and two to five years for disarming a peace officer in April 2000.
Another suit filed in 2001 by TaWaynda Owens claimed Ostrem used ‘unreasonable, unnecessary and unjustified’ force in the death of her husband Michael.
TaWaynda had left her home in Gillette following an incident with her husband Michael in November 2001.
After appearing at her sister’s home and explaining what happened, her sister called local police and explained she had been battered.
While on the phone, Michael Owens, 40, appeared at the home with Ostrem being dispatched to the address.Â
Alongside another officer, Ostrem then approached Owens with guns pointed at him and yelled ‘in a loud and aggressive manner’.Â
The suit adds that after Owens started driving erratically Ostrem opened fire on him and unleashed ten shots. Owens died at the scene after being hit ten times.Â
