Plaintiff:
Demetrious Thomas
Incident date:
07/16/2012
Location:
758 E. 79th St.
Allegations:
Thomas was driving to pick up his mother when Officers Mueller and Reyes pulled him over. Thomas stopped his car and put his hands up. The officers approached Thomas' car with guns drawn. One of the officers yelled, “Turn the f**king car off.” Mueller came to the driver's side window, and Reyes came to the passenger side. When they ordered Thomas out of the car, he said he was afraid and asked them to call a sergeant. Officer Mueller broke the driver's side window with a baton and threatened to shoot Thomas if he moved. Mueller pulled Thomas out of the car, scraping his arm on the broken glass, and put him in the squad car while Reyes searched Thomas' car. The officers found Thomas' gun in the cargo compartment of the truck; it was cased, unloaded and legally registered. They took Thomas to a police station. The officers falsely reported that Thomas had the loaded gun out of its case and in his hands when they pulled him over, and Thomas was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Thomas spent the night at the station and was taken to Cook County Jail the next day. His car was impounded. Thomas posted bond and received medical treatment for the cuts he received from the broken glass. Nearly a year and a half later, the weapon charge against Thomas was dismissed.