Plaintiff:
Chaylan L. Cross
Incident date:
04/17/2009
Location:
2020 W. 68th St.
Allegations:
While Cross, Joseph and James Hill, Sawe, Alleyne and Bowen Jr. sat talking on the porch of the Hill family home, officers stopped and began searching several children six houses down the street. Joseph, Sawe and some neighbors yelled that the children were “OK,” lived in the neighborhood and were not causing any trouble. The officers let the children go, but began to drive slowly past the Hill home and “stared at” the plaintiffs, who never left the porch or confronted the police in any way. But 10 to 15 minutes later, 20 to 25 officers returned to the Hill home, led by Sgt. Keeter, and stormed the property, armed with assault rifles, taser guns and mace. A police helicopter also flew overhead. Police had no search warrant, arrest warrant or probable cause to enter the home, but arrested everyone on the porch and charged them with various offenses. Some of the charges were dismissed; in the other cases, the plaintiffs were acquitted in bench trials.