Plaintiff:
Jose Liera, Sr.
Incident date:
12/18/2011
Location:
4827 S. Wolcott Ave.
Allegations:
Jose Liera Jr. was driving home to Back of the Yards when his car began smoking, so he pulled over to the side of the road. Officers Orsa and Pulia stopped in front of the car, pulled him out of the car and searched him and the vehicle. When his relatives, including his father, Jose Liera Sr., and his pregnant sister, Hamill, and brother-in-law, Jesus Rodriguez-Ramirez, arrived and tried to help him, officers shouted profanities and told them to leave. Pulia elbowed Hamill in the eye and pushed and punched Liera Sr., then put him on the ground, where other officers slammed his head into the pavement and pepper-sprayed him. Police told Hamill to go home and followed her home, arrested her and beat and choked her mother, Carmen, and sister, Carmen Liera-Chavez. Officers also searched the home. Liera Jr., Liera Sr., Hamill and Rodriguez-Ramirez were arrested. Liera Sr. was found not guilty of battery and resisting arrest.