Illinois Police Brutality Alleging Stun Gun Use on Children at Youth Center Leads to $750,000 Personal Injury Settlement
A $750,000 Illinois police brutality settlement has been reached in a federal case accusing Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies of using a stun gun on three children at an emergency youth center. The federal lawsuit, filed in 2009, stemmed from an alleged July 4, 2008 incident at the Southern Thirty Adolescent Center.
According to the complaint, Jefferson County deputies David Bowers and Lonnie Lawler arrived at the home for youths in response to a call that three of the kids were being disruptive. These children are not the ones that sought Illinois personal injury damages.
While at the youth center, Bowers allegedly shoved one boy onto a bed and shocked him repeatedly with a stun gun. He then stunned another boy several times and threatened to sodomize him, which caused the youth to soil himself. A third child obeyed the deputies when they told him to sit on a couch, but Bowers allegedly stunned him repeatedly and Lawler handcuffed him. A fourth youth, a girl, begged the deputies to stop. Lawler allegedly handcuffed her, while Bowers picked her up and choked her while pushing her against a wall. She was then thrown into a closet. All four alleged victims were younger than 18.
Chicago Police Brutality
Police violence is never justified—especially when there is no need or other warranted cause to use force. Chicago police brutality is a violation of one’s civil rights and can lead to personal injuries, emotional trauma, mental anguish, and wrongful death. Do NOT be afraid to report an incident of police violence or explore your legal options.
Lawsuit over Ill. deputy's use of stun gun settled, Salon/AP, August 3, 2010
Related Web Resources:
Sheriff's Office of Jefferson County
