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Chicago Police Brutality: Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed After Police Shoot Man During Foot Chase

In Illinois, the family of Marcellus Perry has filed a police brutality lawsuit against the Chicago police for his wrongful death. Perry was shot in the head by a police officer on June 11 during a foot chase.

Perry was riding in a car when two Chicago cops stopped the driver, Perry?s friend, for a traffic violation. Some witness accounts report that the cops drew their weapons fairly quickly and that is when Perry ran from the scene.

Police claim that the shooting was an accident and that Perry struck one of the cops, causing the police offer?s weapon to accidentally go off and strike the 22-year-old. Perry?s family is disputing the Chicago police?s account of what happened. There are witnesses that say that one of the Chicago police officers reportedly shot Perry while he had his back to the cop.

The Chicago police brutality lawyer representing Perry?s family says that Perry did not have any drugs or weapons on him at the time of the shooting.

Perry, who has two drug possession convictions on his criminal record, had just served half of a 3-year prison sentence at the Cook County Jail. He was on probation at the time of the police shooting. Perry?s mother, Desiree Barnes, says that her son was scared of police.

Police Brutality
Chicago police officers must never use excessive violence when questioning or apprehending a suspect. They also must never inflict unnecessary harm on someone by using excessive force?especially when that person does not pose a threat to them.

Over the years, there have been too many incidents of people getting hurt or abused because certain Chicago police officers used unnecessary measures when questioning a suspect, trying to make an arrest, or when persons have been in police custody. Just last month?in an unrelated case?the Chicago Explainer reported that the city had already approved $19.8 million in settlements for claims filed by just 4 out of the over 100 men who say they were tortured while in police custody during the 1980?s.

Family of man fatally shot by Chicago cop files lawsuit, Chicago Tribune, June 18, 2009

Family of slain man suing CPD, ABCLogal.go.com, June 18, 2009

How much has the city of Chicago paid out to victims of police torture?, Chicago Explainer, May 19, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Chicago Police

30 Cases of Extreme Police Brutality and Blatant Misconduct, Brainz.org

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on June 22, 2009 (boomark / email).

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Lawsuits and Settlements

City of Seymour, CT
$950,000 wrongful death settlement awarded after a police detective let a drunken man drive.

Fatal Drug Bust
City of Louisville awards family a $250,000 wrongful death settlement after a police officer shot a 19-year-old boy.

Police Officer
City of Tonawanda awards former employee $47,000 wrongful termination settlement.

Suspended and Fired
Town of Alton agrees to pay former police chief $10,000 wrongful termination settlement.

Indianapolis
alleging the city's police are overly aggressive against the homeless in violation of the protection of free speech and unreasonable searches guaranteed in the US Constitution.

Onyx Waste Services
$650,000 payout in wrongful death lawsuit.