An Owatonna man who sued Mower County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jeff Ellis for excessively using his police K-9, Tazer, died of an accidental “mixed drug overdose,” according to Steele County records.

Peter Vought, 48, died Sept. 7. Vought had filed a lawsuit against Ellis in U.S. District Court in October 2010 accusing Ellis and Tazer of using unnecessary force while arresting him in July 2007.

Attorneys for Vought claimed Ellis violated Vought’s civil rights when Tazer, now retired, bit his upper thigh and buttocks, causing several puncture wounds during the arrest. The lawsuit was filed less than a week before the Sheriff’s election between Ellis and Sheriff Terese Amazi.

Vought sought more than $75,000 in damages for mental anguish, pain, suffering and humiliation.

Attorney Duane Kennedy, representing Vought in the case, said Monday he hasn’t decided whether to proceed with the lawsuit now that Vought has passed away.

In 2009, Bryan Musolf, who also sued Ellis for using excessive force, died of a heart attack less than one week after Ellis was found not guilty of the allegations by a Minneapolis jury.

Chief Deputy Mark May said Vought’s death is unfortunate, as was Musolf’s two years ago.

“It’s unfortunate these individuals passed away, but it is nothing related to our department,” May said.