Posted on 02/01/2023 9:19:42 AM PST by Red Badger
CPD said both officers have served their time and are back on the street.
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Damien Stewart admits he has made mistakes in the past, which includes breaking the law, but the 31-year-old man said he never did anything to deserve a beating from two Chicago police officers while in a holding cell at the 4th District almost four years ago.
"They struck me. I don't know why they struck me. I didn't say anything, or make any aggressive movements," Stewart said.
Stewart said it all started with a traffic stop at the corner of 75th and Stoney Island during May of 2019.
"They were saying I was pulled over because I had no front or back plates. The tags had expired. If you fail emissions test, they take your front and back plate off," Stewart said.
Stewart said the officers also found an illegal gun in the car. He was arrested and taken to the 4th Police District around 3 a.m. The officers who originally pulled him over, Jerold Williams and Delgado Fernandez, woke Stewart up to search him for a third time.
"Even though I didn't want to again, I complied," Stewart said.
While there is no audio, the holding cell video obtained by Stewart's lawyers, shows Williams striking Stewart with a closed fist several times. Fernandez appears to hold Stewart down while Williams delivers more blows to the head.
Stewart said he was taken to the hospital, but was not seriously physically injured.
"There is no room or place for that kind of uncalled violence on an unarmed man who is already in police custody. It's uncalled for and it's appalling," said William Calloway, a community organizer.
Calloway is calling for Williams to be fired. Chicago police said he was given a 15-day suspension and Fernandez received a 10-day suspension. CPD said both officers have served their time and are back on the street.
Stewart did file a civil suit against the police department. He received a $45,000 settlement.
Stewart used some of the money for bail on a 2021 case that also began with a traffic stop.
LOL!!! Nice post.
And? It’s a revered time honored tradition with CPD.
And if you need your car to get to work, then you’re screwed.
The poverty to prison pipeline is real and it’s full of working class citizens being squeezed to death by the regulatory state.
Actual criminals get a pass.
The officers entered the cell with the intention of searching the offender, who was seated. The Officer without a hat tried to grab the offenders apparently arm to stand him up for the search, and the offender kept pulling away from this officer. After some conversation the offender stood up and was searched and apparently something was found. The officer with the knit cap rubbed the offender on the top of his head, a bit insulting, but harmless nonetheless. It appears the offender took exception to this disrespectful act and as the officer turned away, the offender moved towards the officer and tensed up, definitely an assault, the officer turned around and they both grabbed each other and wrestled around in the cell the officer with the knit hat then used his closed hand to strike the offender to get him under control.
“CPD said both officers have served their time...”
No, “serving their time” would mean going to jail for assault and battery, and civil rights violations, not a 2 week suspension.
Nah, not Daley, he’s been out of office for years. Rahm Emmanuel was mayor before Groot.
Chicago PD already admitted guild by giving them a suspension. So the question is why not charge them with assault & battery?
I wonder why this is just now coming out? Obviously the cops should have been charged with assault & battery. But why now? What are they distracting us from?
Yep, every one of those “crimes” is basically daring to exercise your natural rights without asking the government for special permission first.
Thanks for the larger context. I can understand how the adrenaline and anger can lead to “excessive force”, but cops need to be trained on the absolute necessity of self-control.
At first I thought your handle was a play on Kid Rock’s “deez nuts”
And the beat goes on. 😏
No, really it came from me wanting a 69 Chevy Camaro Z/28 with a DZ 302 motor, but I'm poor and couldn’t afford one, so I bought a Dodge Polara. But It can be taken any way.
Nice choice! I recall the 327 being preferred to the 350, the former with 4 bolt mains... do I have that right?
Why are tags required on a license plate in the first place? To pay for the people who work in the office distributing them, and the cost of manufacturing them. . . . . Plus of course retirement, sick leave, maternity leave, unemployment insurance, L & I laws, quarterly taxes on the public/private agency.
I would bet it costs more that it brings in.
Jan 6 prisoners agree
I think the 327’s were 2 bolt mains, 350’s 4 bolt. Mighty Mouse was a good big bore short stroke motor.
power without accountability is one of the more evil things in the world
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