Traffic stopLegal access deniedThreats/intimidationExcessive forceFalse arrest or reportAssault or battery to an officer chargesWeapons charges
Plaintiff:
Steven M. Dick
Incident date:
04/25/2008
Location:
3400 N. Hamilton Ave.
Allegations:
Dick, a licensed security contractor and firearm instructor, was driving when Officer Kohles and other officers pulled him over without justification. After stopping him, an unknown officer yanked him out of his vehicle and threw him onto the street. While Dick was on the ground, Officer Kohles put his foot on his head and other officers kicked him. Officers then took Dick home and threatened his family if he didn't sign paperwork allowing them to search his residence. During their search, officers made Dick open a safe and took his guns from it. Dick was then taken to a police station where officers charged him with assault and ten firearm misdemeanors and refused him access to a lawyer. Dick was eventually released on bond but Officer Wojcik ignored this and kept him in custody until he agreed to be admitted to a hospital for "mental conditions." Officers then drove Dick to the West Side Veterans Hospital against his will to try and admit him as a psychiatric patient so he would lose his ability to apply for a gun license. Next, officers lied to Illinois State Police, saying Dick was charged with a felony, in order to revoke his current gun license. Then officers lied about the arrest to the firearm training company Dick worked for and got him fired. The charges against Dick were later dismissed and his guns were returned to him.