Chicago Injury Attorney Blog

A paralyzed man convicted of resisting arrest and hitting a Chicago police officer in a 2006 incident is suing the city and several of its police officers for violating his civil rights. Daniel Casares, who is a quadriplegic, says that police pulled him from his vehicle and beat him even after he told them that he was paralyzed and could not get out of the car.

He also says that because of physical condition, he does not have the physical ability to strike the officer he was convicted of hitting. Casares is unable to move his legs and has limited range of motion in his arms.

The alleged police brutality incident happened while Casares was sitting in the passenger side of his car next to his brother. Chicago police arrived to arrest his brother, who was under suspicion of using marijuana. Casares was ordered to exit the vehicle, and this is when he says he repeatedly told them he was unable to get out of the car.

Three police officers that testified at Casares’s criminal trial offer a different account. They claim that they never drew their guns during the altercation and accuse Casares of hitting a female cop when she asked him to exit his car.

Police Brutality
In 2007, CNN published statistics reporting that the City of Chicago received over 10,000 complaints against its police officers between 2002 and 2004. Many of these reports alleged assault and brutality.

Man paralyzed since 2002 files suit saying he was beaten by Chicago cops in '06, Chicago Tribune, July 24, 2008

Chicago's Finest Under Fire for Brutality, CNN.com, September 28, 2007

Related Web Resources:

983 Civil Action for Deprivation of Rights

City of Chicago Police

Continue reading "Quadriplegic Man Files a Lawsuit Accusing Chicago Police of Beating Him" »

Posted by Steven J. Malman | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Police Brutality/Civil Rights Violations

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The family of a man that died in an accidental shooting incident involving the Danville police is suing the city and the police officer involved. Aaron Moss, 27, was killed in 2006 after Officer Troy Wasson shot him twice during a foot pursuit.

The lawsuit, filed in US District Court in Urbana, alleges excessive force and wrongful death. Moss’s family is asking for over $1 million in damages and accuses Wasson of acting “maliciously, willfully, and wantonly” in Moss’s death.

The complaint reports that on May 30, 2006, Moss and another man had just ended an argument when the police arrived. Moss fled from the scene and was chased by Danville police.

Office Wasson allegedly pulled out a taser, but when he encountered Moss, he shot him in the arm and the back with a gun. The lawsuit claims that Moss was not armed and that Officer Wasson told a woman who offered to perform CPR on Moss to go away.

A sheriff’s department investigation, however, claims that Moss had a loaded gun. The police probe determined that Wasson was not at fault and absolved him of doing anything wrong.

Justice Department Statistics that from 2001 to 2007, there was an increase in the number of reported incidents involving the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers compared to the seven years prior. Many police brutality cases were reportedly not prosecuted.

Examples of police brutality include:

• Brutal chokings
• Unjustified shootings
• Beatings
• Sexual assault
• Verbal violence

Family sues city, police officer, Commercial-News, July 10, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Shielded from Justice, HRW.org

Communities United Against Police Brutality

Posted by Steven J. Malman | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Police Brutality/Civil Rights Violations , Wrongful Death

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