Destroy/conceal/fabricate evidenceWitness manipulationFalse arrest or reportOther charges filed
Plaintiff:
Maurice Patterson
Location:
7100 S. Marshfield Ave.
Allegations:
Robert Head was fatally stabbed on April 3, 2002. Head's attacker was not identified by witnesses on the scene the night of the murder. Under pressure to solve the murder and without any leads, officers coerced witnesses into identifying Patterson as Head's attacker. Officers held witness Leslie Herron without food, water or anywhere to sleep for three days. During that time Herron had not identified Patterson as the attacker. So officers allowed Herron to "overhear" information on Patterson in order to get a false identification of him as Head's murderer. After officers successfully got a false identification of Patterson, they buried all substantial evidence, like DNA test results of the murder weapon, which could prove that Patterson was innocent. In 2003, Patterson was wrongfully convicted of Head's murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison. In 2007, Patterson filed a Freedom of Information Act request which included the DNA test results of the murder weapon. The test results resulted in a new trial where Patterson was found not guilty of Head's murder.