Number of Plaintiffs Accusing Chicago Cop of Police Civil Rights Violations Reaches 42
42 people are now suing Chicago police Officer Richard Fiorito for making false DUI arrests. The plaintiffs are accusing the Chicago cop of targeting gay and disabled people and abusing and harassing them while falsely arresting them for drunk driving.
A Cook County grand jury has been investigating the allegations against Fiorito, who was ordered to use surveillance equipment because of the complaints. So far, he has not been indicted.
Footage shows him following a vehicle driven by Christopher Quinn in June. Fiorito wrote in his police report that the suspect was “driving recklessly” and he arrested Quinn for DUI. The criminal charge against Quinn was dropped, however, because the video did not show what Fiorito reported.
Video also shows Fiorito arresting Michael Vaughn because he allegedly failed sobriety tests. A judge lifted the suspension against Vaughn’s license last week.
Despite the allegations and questions about Fiorito’s trustworthiness, Cook County prosecutors keep using him as a witness in DUI cases.
Making a false arrest is a violation of one’s civil rights and can be grounds for a Chicago police brutality lawsuit. Recently, Clinton Ware filed her own Chicago police misconduct complaint. Ware says that Officer Joe Parker falsely arrested her for DUI so he could appear in court and receive overtime pay. The charges against Ware have been dropped.
Meantime, Parker has resigned. He is ranked #8 in Illinois among cops who issue the most DUI citations. Chicago officer John Hale is number one on the list of DUI cops. He made 718 arrests between 2005 and 2006. He served as witness in hundreds of Chicago DUI cases and was eventually indicted for misconduct, perjury, and obstruction of justice. Fiorito has also been accused of trying to earn overtime pay with his allegedly bogus DUI arrests.
Cop sued for alleged false DUI arrests, ABC Local, November 5, 2009
Chicago Police Accused of Making False DUI Arrests to Earn Overtime Pay, All Gov, November 5, 2009
Dozens join lawsuit against Chicago police officer, The Spectator, October 8, 2009
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