Personal Injury Law

Park Ridge Police and Teenager Settle Cook County Police Brutality Lawsuit with Teen for $186,000

More than three years after police allegedly assaulted then-15-year-old Gavin Farley while arresting him in October 2006, the city of Park Ridge and the plaintiff have agreed on a $185,000 Cook County police brutality settlement.

According to the Cook County, Illinois injury complaint, a Park Ridge cop slammed Farley?s head to the ground while another officer punched the teenager?s head and face while arresting him after he and another teenager ran from police. A projectile had been used to break the window of a vehicle that an off-duty cop was driving. Police found the boys hiding close to the cemetery.

Farley was charged with two counts of reckless conduct, curfew violation, resisting a cop, underage drink, and two counts of criminal damage to property. Farley?s companion reportedly confessed that the two of them shot at the windows. The criminal case against Farley was resolved in juvenile court.

However, just because someone has been apprehended for allegedly committing a crime does not give police the right to assault him/her or use excessive force in any other way. Farley?s Cook County police brutality complaint contends that the plaintiff sustained injuries from the alleged assaults. Also, the lawsuit says that a request by his parents to file a complaint against the Park Ridge police department for battery was denied. City of Park Ridge and four of its police officers are among the Illinois injury defendants.

Meantime, the defendants? attorney called Farley?s accusations of police violence unfounded. He says by settling, they are not admitting guilt.

Cook County Police Brutality
Unfortunately, there are cops who abuse their authority by using excessive force when doing their job. Physical violence, verbal violence, emotional violence, sexual violence, and psychological violence are all forms of police brutality. Police officers must not only follow the law, but they too must be held accountable when they break the law.

Many victims of police violence are too scared to report what happened to them. You may be entitled to Chicago, Illinois injury compensation.

Park Ridge Police: Police brutality case settled for $185K, Park Ridge Herald-Advocate, January 12, 2010

Related Web Resources:
City of Park Ridge, Illinois

Communities United Against Police Brutality

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on January 23, 2010 (boomark / email).