Home invasionMinorDamage to propertyStolen propertyThreats/intimidationExcessive forceIllegal search/seizureFalse arrest or reportPhysical forceGunWeapons chargesHospitalized
Plaintiff:
Donald Wisniewski
Incident date:
02/15/2003
Location:
5322 S. Laramie Ave.
Allegations:
During a New Year's Ever party on Dec. 31, 2002, Anthony Wisniewski told the nephew of Officer Finnigan that his father collected guns. A few weeks later, Wisniewski was asleep in his apartment when officers with the police department's Special Operations Section (SOS) broke in without justification and woke him up with a gun pointed in his face. They asked Anthony where his father, Donald Wisniewski, lived and Anthony gave officers the address. Soon after, Anthony moved back in with his parents. On Feb. 15, 2003 only A.W., Anthony's younger brother who was 14 at the time, was home when officers knocked on the door and then broke through the front door without justification. Officers pushed A.W. against a wall and searched the house. Then they brought A.W. into the dining room to ask where his father kept his guns and where his father and brother were. Terrified, A.W. answered all their questions. Officers stole seven of Donald's guns, but only inventoried four of them, and then went to a nearby tavern where they roughly arrested Donald, who had recently undergone triple-bypass surgery, and Anthony. Both men were taken to a police station. Donald was charged with failure to register his guns and Anthony was charged with disorderly conduct. Donald was also threatened with a child endangerment charge, prison or death should he file a complaint about his arrest on any officers. While at the station Donald saw officers carrying some of his guns and asked why they were wearing them. Officer Herrera said, "Shut the f**k up...we are the f**king police and can do what we want. Five weeks later