Plaintiff:
Laurence E. Stepney
Incident date:
08/07/2013
Location:
7450 S. Western Ave.
Allegations:
Stepney pulled out of a Toyota dealership one morning and began driving north on Western Avenue. As he did so, Officer Bikulcius, who was driving an unmarked Lexus, honked his horn at Stepney. Bikulcius yelled, “Pick a lane motherf**ker” and continued to honk at Stepney. Stepney called out to Bikulcius, “Do you want me to pull over?” and Bikulcius responded by gunning his engine, as if he were going to run into Stepney's car. Stepney pulled over when he saw video cameras on the front of a store, hoping to catch whatever happened next on camera. Bikulcius pulled up next to Stepney's car, and Stepney got out and flagged down a man he recognized as an off-duty Cook County Sheriff's Deputy, who had been driving behind Stepney. The deputy pulled over, and Stepney pointed at Bikulcius and said, “He's acting crazy, and watch out because he's strapped.” The deputy drew a pistol and Bikulcius got out of his car and drew a pistol as well. They aimed their weapons at one another, and Stepney, fearing for his life, yelled to the deputy, “Shoot him.” Bikulcius identified himself as a Chicago police officer, pointed his gun at Stepney and said, “He's under arrest.” Bikulcius did not respond when Stepney asked what he was being charged with. As Bikulcius put Stepney in handcuffs, he dislocated Stepney's right shoulder and fractured Stepney's left wrist.