Thursday, October 11, 2007

Looting and Assault by the CPD

Businessmen Claim Club Was Robbed Under Police Custody

CHICAGO -- Owners of the E2 nightclub claim Chicago police or other city employees stole more than $65,000 in cash and more than $45,000 worth of liquor from the club after a stampede killed 21 people there in 2003.

In papers filed in Cook County Circuit Court, club owners Dwain Kyles and Calvin Hollins Jr said the money and liquor were on the premises when police took control of the club shortly after the tragedy. But when police relinquished custody of the building more than a year later, the liquor and all but $800 was missing.

Even if the police didn't take it, they had custody of the building and are accountable for it.

L.A. Couple Claim Chicago Police Assaulted Them

As they were looking for a taxi, two men in a car pulled up, and one of them asked Morris -- a few steps ahead of her boyfriend -- if she was going to her car. When they told her they wanted to talk to her, she began to run, fearing the men -- who had not identified themselves as police officers -- were going to rob her or worse, Kosoglad said.

It wouldn�t be until after the two police officers and the couple tussled -- and the officers pushed her face into the unmarked squad car�s computer -- that the officers identified themselves, according to the lawsuit. She was arrested on suspicion of battery on a police officer; that case was later dismissed, her attorney said.

Kosoglad said the reason officers wanted to talk with her in the first place was because they had received an anonymous complaint about a woman, matching Morris� description, who was soliciting prostitution.

With all of the incidents of abuse by the CPD, it wouldn't be unreasonable for someone to run from them even if they were uniformed.

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