NATO Protester Suing City Over Arrest, Claiming
Cops Beat Him
CHICAGO (STMW) – A man arrested during last year’s NATO protests is suing the city,
claiming Chicago Police beat and dragged him after he was involuntarily pushed
into a line of officers.
Authorities initially charged Philip Devon with reckless
conduct, but the charge was dismissed after prosecutors failed to show up to a
court date last December, according to a suit filed in U.S. District Court in
Chicago. A judge later denied the prosecution’s motion to reinstate the case.
Devon claims he and other NATO protesters were in close
quarters near State and Madison streets the night of May 19, when police
officers formed a line and told the crowd to move back.
He tried to comply, but other protestors and the size of
the crowd pushed him toward police, the suit claims.
One officer allegedly pushed Devon facedown to the
ground, and hit him with a baton before dragging him 30 to 40 feet down State
Street to handcuff him, according to the suit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court.
Devon, of Chicago, says he was demonstrating peacefully
and that police had no cause to arrest him, the suit said.
The suit claims excessive force, false arrest and
malicious prosecution, and names two officers as well as the city as
defendants. It seeks an unspecified amount in damages.
A city Law Department spokesman said officials have not
yet been served with the suit, and could not comment on it
NYPD Officer Charged With Assault In Brooklyn
NEW YORK
(CBSNewYork) — An off-duty New York City police officer was arrested
in Brooklyn Monday and charged with assault.
Officer Sony
Joseph, 34 , was arrested at 5:09 a.m. Monday in the 76th Precinct, which
includes the Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Red Hook sections of Brooklyn.
Police did not
provide further details. But a DNAInfo report said the charges followed a
domestic dispute at Joseph’s home.
Joseph has been on
the force since 2002 and worked in Brooklyn, the publication reported.
Craig Beach, Ohio: A woman and her husband have sued the
now-former village police chief and a councilwoman. They allege the police
chief used excessive force against them in a traffic stop. They also say that
he conspired to destroy evidence of his improper actions. ow.ly/kzjSi
Brooklyn, New York: A city police officer was charged with
assault following a domestic dispute at his home. He has been a member of the NYPD since 2002.
ow.ly/kzj9t
Queens, New York: A former Marine says that he was punched
and kicked in the face by cops as they ejected him from the stationhouse, where
he had gone to retrieve a friend’s personal property. ow.ly/kzg7U
Colorado Springs, Colorado: A former police officer pleaded
guilty to a single felony count. She left her job amid allegations that she
lied about domestic violence to put an estranged boyfriend in prison.
ow.ly/kzayZ
Greenville, North Carolina: A police officer has been
charged with assault. The incident is under investigation by the Internal
Affairs Division, and his police powers have been suspended. ow.ly/kz6To