In a federal lawsuit filed today, at least four Chicago police officers stand accused of beating up four civilians after one of the officers ran a stop sign and nearly hit three of them with his unmarked police car. The beatings continued even after the victims were handcuffed.



The attack began in the early morning hours of January 7th when police driving an unmarked car ran a stop sign at the corner of Clark and Leland in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, nearly hitting Jacob Butko (28), Shaun Meesak (28) and Ruben Vazquez (27).

After the near miss, Butko yelled and gestured at the driver, who stopped the car and piled out of it with another officer. Another police car stopped and more officers joined the confrontation. Officer V. Ferro allegedly lined up Meesak and Vazquez against a fence and punched them repeatedly even though they offered no resistance. Officer Finnegan allegedly threw Butko against a parked car and punched him repeatedly, again with Butko offering no resistance.

Upon exiting a bar on the same corner, Plaintiff Derrick Peoples (29) witnessed the beating and yelled at the officers to stop, whereupon Officer Edward Wodnicki allegedly threatened Peoples with arrest. Peoples retreated back into the bar and Wodnicki allegedly followed him inside, drew his gun in the crowded bar, and pointed it at Peoples' face. He then allegedly dragged Peoples out of the bar, whereupon he and Officer N. Forrestal beat up Peoples, including slamming his head against the sidewalk.

Butko, Meesak and Peoples were arrested and taken to the Belmont and Western police station where they were put in separate interrogation rooms. While they were handcuffed to the walls of the interrogation rooms, Officer Ferro allegedly threatened each of the arrestees with additional beatings. Despite the handcuffs, Meesak managed to use his cell phone to take pictures of his own bloodied face.







Today's suit was filed by the civil rights law firm of Loevy and Loevy. A copy of the suit is attached below.

Dept of full disclosure: the author works at Loevy and Loevy.