Allegations:
Keys was in the passenger seat of a car when Officers Haywood, Nash and Townsend pulled over the car. The officers handcuffed Keys' hands behind his back using a plastic restraint. Then they walked him to a nearby Chicago Housing Authority complex, where police were conducting a mission to arrest individuals suspected of drug activity. The officers put Keys on a nearby curb, where he sat with several other handcuffed individuals for about 15 minutes. The officers then told Keys he was free to go as soon as they found a device—commonly referred to as a “cutter”—to safely remove the plastic restraint. One of the officers tried to remove Keys' restraint with a knife, but was unsuccessful. Two other officers tried using knives to cut off the restraint, and on the third attempt Keys' hands were cut in at least two places, causing him to bleed profusely. Only after another officer was called to bring over a cutter was the restraint removed successfully. Keys was taken to a hospital, where he received stitches in one finger and was treated for nerve damage to other fingers. Keys was released back into police custody, where he was charged with three misdemeanor crimes and three traffic offenses. Haywood filed the reports for the traffic citations, which included failing to wear a seatbelt, driving on a suspended license and operating a car without insurance. Williams and Nash filed the reports for the criminal charges, which included marijuana possession and criminal trespass. The charges against Keys were dismissed about six months later.