Plaintiff:
Gregory Jeffries
Incident date:
10/11/2010
Location:
7900 S. Vincennes Ave.
Allegations:
As Jeffries, a 19-year-old college student, and some friends were buying food at a restaurant at 79th Street and South Vincennes Avenue, police cars pulled into the parking lot and officers got out. One of them grabbed Jeffries, told him to put his hands on a car, then handcuffed and searched him. When Jeffries asked why he was being arrested, the officer hit him in the chest, kept applying pressure and told Jeffries “You got any more questions?” Another officer asked Jeffries where he lived and when Jeffries told him, the officer knocked his hat off his head and used “a series of slurs against him.” At that point, Sgt. Howard walked up to Jeffries, who was still handcuffed, and said “You think this is your ‘hood?” Howard then hit Jeffries numerous times in the face and head, and Jeffries began spitting out blood. Police also beat and choked a friend of Jeffries, but refused to offer the two any medical assistance and took them to a police station. Police refused to tell Jeffries the name of the officer who initially hit him. Jeffries was charged with criminal trespass to land, but the charges were dismissed. Sgt. Howard was later arrested and indicted on charges of aggravated battery and official misconduct.