Plaintiff:
Regina R. Head
Incident date:
10/03/2011
Location:
727 E. 111th St.
Allegations:
Head was transported under custody between police stations. At the first station, she had been searched, fingerprinted and photographed. When she arrived at the new station, Head was taken to a booking area that was under video surveillance and visible to other officers. Instead of being held there, Officer Bright took Head into a nearby holding cell. Bright then conducted an invasive and violent search of Head, requiring Head to take off her clothing until she was naked. After Head removed her underwear, Bright took the sanitary napkin Head had been wearing and tore it to pieces, searching through the shreds. Bright told her she knew Head had contraband. The officer then handcuffed Head while she was still naked. When Head cried out in pain, Bright grabbed the handcuffs and jerked them upward, spraining Head's wrist. In response to Head's cries, the on-duty sergeant ordered Head's handcuffs removed and that she be clothed and taken to the hospital. She filed a report with the Independent Police Review Authority, which determined her claims to be unfounded.