These 1112 lawsuits cost Chicago a total of $312,962,667.
Case 14-L-7476
$100,000
FALSE ARREST
Traffic stopLater chargedOn dutyMinorFalse arrest or reportGunOther charges filed
Plaintiff:
Ricardo Cruz
Incident date:
02/19/2005
Location:
5420 W Grand Ave.
Allegations:
In February 2004, Cruz was sitting on a porch with his friends, when Officer Haleas ordered the group to leave. When Cruz refused, Haleas arrested him for driving under the influence, even though he wasn't even inside a vehicle at the time. A year later, Cruz, his partner and their children were driving when Haleas pulled them over. Cruz was sitting in the backseat, between his two children. Haleas recognized Cruz from the previous incident, and ordered him out of the car. Cruz hesitated, and Haleas banged his gun aggressively on the back passenger window, where Cruz's 16-year-old daughter was sitting. Haleas pulled Cruz out from the back seat and arrested him for driving under the influence. Haleas also arrested Cruz's partner for child endangerment. Haleas had another detainee in his car, but let him go in order to arrest Cruz. The family was taken to the police station and the children were forced to wait outside in the dark for a relative to pick them up while their parents were arrested. Charges were dismissed against Cruz's partner, but Cruz was tried and convicted based on Haleas' false testimony. On November 3, 2006, Cruz was sentenced to four years in prison. About a year later, media outlets reported that the Cook County State's Attorney's Office had dismissed more than 50 DUI arrests involving Officer Haleas, after it was found that he had repeatedly perjured himself. Cruz's conviction was overturned after 14 months in prison. In April 2008 Haleas was indicted on charges of official misconduct, perjury and obstructing justice.
traffic stopon dutydamage to propertyexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportresisting or obstructing arrest chargesother charges fileddrug chargesassault or battery to an officer charges
home invasionon dutyminorracial epithetsthreats/intimidationexcessive forcetasergunphysical forcehospitalizedresisting or obstructing arrest chargesassault or battery to an officer charges
stop and friskoff dutyexcessive forcepepper sprayphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargeshospitalizedresisting or obstructing arrest charges
destroy/conceal/fabricate evidencestrip searchexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest charges
traffic stopdestroy/conceal/fabricate evidenceexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forcetaserassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest charges
home invasionplainclothesphysical disabilitydamage to propertystolen propertystrip searchthreats/intimidationillegal search/seizurephysical forcegunhospitalized
traffic stopthreats/intimidationexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forcenightstickassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargeshospitalized
home invasiondamage to propertyexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest charges
home invasiondestroy/conceal/fabricate evidencethreats/intimidationexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forcepepper sprayassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest charges
stop and friskminordamage to propertydestroy/conceal/fabricate evidencethreats/intimidationexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forceother charges filed
minorexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forcegunassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargesother charges filed
excessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forcenightstickpepper sprayassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest charges
retaliationthreats/intimidationexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesweapons chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargeshospitalized
off dutylater chargedunder the influencebriberydestroy/conceal/fabricate evidencethreats/intimidationexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical force
racial epithetsexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forcegunassault or battery to an officer chargesweapons chargesresisting or obstructing arrest charges
home invasionminordamage to propertystolen propertythreats/intimidationexcessive forceillegal search/seizurefalse arrest or reportphysical forcegunweapons chargeshospitalized
home invasionon dutyphysical disabilitypetsminordamage to propertythreats/intimidationexcessive forcestolen propertyillegal search/seizurefalse arrest or reportresisting or obstructing arrest chargesassault or battery to an officer charges
home invasiondestroy/conceal/fabricate evidencethreats/intimidationexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forcetaserassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargeshospitalized
home invasionminordamage to propertyracial epithetsretaliationthreats/intimidationexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportgunresisting or obstructing arrest charges
on dutythreats/intimidationexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forcenightstickassault or battery to an officer chargesweapons chargesresisting or obstructing arrest charges
off dutyon dutydestroy/conceal/fabricate evidenceexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargeshospitalized
on dutyexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forcenightstickassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargeshospitalized
on dutyexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forcenightstickassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargesother charges filed
lock-upon dutyexcessive forceretaliationfalse arrest or reportphysical forcenightstickextended detentionassault or battery to an officer chargeshospitalized
traffic stopon dutydamage to propertyexcessive forcestolen propertythreats/intimidationfalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesdrug chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargesother charges filed
home invasionon dutyplainclotheselderlybriberydamage to propertydestroy/conceal/fabricate evidencestrip searchthreats/intimidationfalse arrest or reportgunextended detentiondrug charges
on dutyexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargesother charges filedhospitalized
stop and friskon dutyexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargeshospitalized
on dutyexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesdrug chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargeshospitalized
traffic stopon dutyexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forcegunnightstickassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargesother charges filedhospitalized
home invasionon dutyminorexcessive forcethreats/intimidationfalse arrest or reportphysical forcenightstickassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargeshospitalized
on dutydestroy/conceal/fabricate evidenceexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargesother charges filed
home invasionon dutyminorphysical disabilityexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesweapons chargesresisting or obstructing arrest charges
on dutyexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportnightstickphysical forceresisting or obstructing arrest chargesdrug chargesassault or battery to an officer charges
stop and friskplainclotheson dutyexcessive forcegunphysical forceextended detentionresisting or obstructing arrest chargesassault or battery to an officer charges
off dutyon dutyexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargesother charges filed
home invasionthreats/intimidationexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportgunphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest charges
home invasiondestroy/conceal/fabricate evidencewitness manipulationexcessive forceillegal search/seizurefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargeshospitalized
destroy/conceal/fabricate evidencestolen propertyexcessive forceshootingfalse arrest or reportgunassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargeshospitalized
traffic stopon dutyexcessive forcestrip searchsexual harassment/abusefalse arrest or reportgunphysical forcedrug chargesassault or battery to an officer charges
destroy/conceal/fabricate evidenceexcessive forceillegal search/seizurephysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargesother charges filed
off dutyunder the influencedestroy/conceal/fabricate evidenceretaliationthreats/intimidationexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargeshospitalized
stop and friskminorexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargesother charges filedhospitalized
physical disabilitypregnantdestroy/conceal/fabricate evidenceexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forcepepper sprayassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargesother charges filedhospitalized
traffic stopracial epithetssexual harassment/abuseexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forcetaserassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargesother charges filedhospitalized
protestminorexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargesother charges filed
home invasionplainclothesmental illnessdamage to propertydestroy/conceal/fabricate evidenceretaliationexcessive forceillegal search/seizurefalse arrest or reportgun
lock-uppregnantthreats/intimidationexcessive forcephysical forcepepper sprayassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargesother charges filedhospitalized
home invasiondamage to propertydestroy/conceal/fabricate evidenceretaliationstolen propertythreats/intimidationillegal search/seizurefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest charges
on dutyexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargesother charges filed
off dutyexcessive forcestolen propertythreats/intimidationfalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer chargesweapons chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargeshospitalized
on dutyexcessive forcelegal access deniedthreats/intimidationfailure to provide medical carefalse arrest or reportphysical forceassault or battery to an officer charges
on dutydestroy/conceal/fabricate evidenceexcessive forceshootingfalse arrest or reportgunextended detentionassault or battery to an officer chargesweapons chargeshospitalized
traffic stopexcessive forcefalse arrest or reportphysical forcegunextended detentionassault or battery to an officer chargesresisting or obstructing arrest chargeshospitalized
This database of civil police misconduct claims aims to summarize the complaint, the Chicago police officers named, and the settlement/judgment amount, and does not purport to summarize the entire legal proceeding. Defendants typically deny the allegations in a complaint, and a settlement or judgment is not an indication that every allegation is true. This database does not reflect the additional, non-Chicago police officer defendants who may have been named in the case or the specific claims that remained at the end of each case. For full credits and methodology, click here.