Plaintiff:
Gilberto Flores
Incident date:
11/14/2014
Location:
4736 W. McLean Ave.
Allegations:
Flores was driving when Officer Varchetto and other officers stopped and ordered him out of his car at gunpoint. The officers took him to his home and searched his apartment for drugs. After they failed to find any drugs, the officers became upset and began to destroy Flores' personal belongings. The officers then called a canine unit to assist with their search; however, the dog did not find any drugs in the apartment, either. One officer discovered a bag of ashes in an urn, which were from Flores' deceased son. Another officer took powdered sugar from a garbage bag. The officers then inventoried the ashes as heroin and claimed the powdered sugar was cocaine. Flores was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after the officers took an antique replica of a Civil War pistol that was hanging on the wall in his apartment. After taking Flores to the police station, Officer Varchetto fabricated a verbal confession from Flores and charged him with multiple felonies. Flores was incarcerated and the charges were dismissed almost two years later.