Chicago Residents Claim Police Abuse

CBS2 Chicago
October 5, 2007

(CBS) CHICAGO Misconduct allegations are being leveled against the Chicago Police Department in a class action lawsuit. As CBS 2’s Suzanne Le Mignot reports, officers are accused of illegally searching residents at a Chicago Housing Authority complex.

“He fondled my breasts and other parts of my body that men are not supposed to touch without my permission,” said Harold Ickes Homes resident Taneysha Bass.

Others claim friends were arrested for trespassing, while just trying to visit them at their home.

“These people were waiting for me in their car,” said Ickes resident Aaron Boys. “On my way down to get into the car, they’re already arrested.”

Others say they have been harassed and cursed at by Chicago police while trying to capture what they say is police misconduct.

“I was arrested for having a camcorder, by videotaping them and all the obscene things they have been doing outside our community,” said Ickes resident Marie Battle.

Bass, Boyd and Battle are among the Chicago Housing Authority residents claiming Chicago police carry out home invasions, unlawful arrests, steal cash from residents and do illegal strip searches.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson says he wants to bring attention to what residents say is happening here.

“Denying people access to their parents’ homes is irrational and of course, police operating Gestapo-style must end, for it is illegal,” he said Friday.

Jackson says some residents even put cameras in trees to document what they call police misconduct.

“We have to uphold every citizen’s right to live the way they want to live, where they want to live and how they want to live,” said 3rd Ward Ald. Pat Dowell.

“I don’t believe that Rambos have the right to come in and usurp people in their natural habitat,” said Rep. Danny Davis.

Meantime, Chicago police issued a statement which says in part, the crime rate is down significantly, and that has been “…accomplished by removing dangerous offenders from communities.”

Police also say they encourage those who feel their rights have been violated to file a complaint.