As reported by the Courthouse News Service, a female senior citizen and licensed pushcart vendor has claimed that a female police officer assaulted her during an unnecessary search, and has filed a personal injury lawsuit against the officer and the city.
M.C. has named Chicago Police Department’s Officer D. and the City of Chicago in her suit. She claims that the officer tossed her against the officer’s car, choked her with her apron and threatened her life.
According to the lawsuit filed in Federal Court, “Plaintiff is a licensed push cart vendor with the City of Chicago…On October 14, 2011, at approximately 2 p.m., plaintiff was in the vicinity of Guadalupe Gonzalez Magnet School with her push cart when she was approached by Officer D.”
M.C. said that she showed Officer D. her vendor’s license while sending her husband to their home to bring back her state identification card.
When the school bell rang, dismissing the young students for the day, M.C. claimed that the officer “Roughly grabbed plaintiff, who is 70 years old and approximately 5 feet tall, by the arm and threw her against the police car and shoved her, kicked (M.C.’s) legs apart with her feet and did an aggressive search of her person. Then Officer (D.) proceeded to throw plaintiff into Officer (D.’s) squad car, injuring plaintiff's shoulder. A girl from the school was taking pictures of what was happening, and Officer (D.) told her to mind her own business. When the girl continued to use her camera, Officer (D.) grabbed her and smashed her face into the side of a vehicle.”
Officer D. drove M.C. a block away from the school and proceeded to issue her a ticket “concerning the operation of her push cart.”
Students, that walked past the parked squad car and saw M.C. inside, allegedly asked Officer D. why the plaintiff was in her car – and Officer D. chased them away.
The suit states, “Officer (D.) then opened the squad car door, grabbed plaintiff's hand and asked her if the apron in the back passenger seat was hers, she said 'Yes' and the officer then put it around plaintiff's neck and began to choke her with it, telling plaintiff 'You are going to die' as she pulled plaintiff from the squad car and threw her down into the street, injuring plaintiff's knee, shoulder and head.”
M.C. said that she had to be treated at a hospital for her injuries. Her son-in-law lodged a complaint against Officer D. but “The City of Chicago has failed to take any action against Officer (D.)...”
Attorney Kurt H. Feuer is representing M.C. in the lawsuit. Damages are sought for excessive force, battery and assault – and indemnification from the City of Chicago.
Have you been injured by a police officer, or another member of a larger entity? A physician in a hospital, a bartender in a hotel or a priest in the Catholic church – all are examples of those that can be held responsible in a case of personal injury. Contact a personal injury lawyer for help.