Post by Shuftin on Oct 25, 2006 3:33:12 GMT -5
October 15, 2006
Marengo Illinois Sued For $18.5 Million By Victim Of Police Beating Caught On Videotape - Man Beaten By Marengo Police Officer David Mahlke And Illinois State Police Special Agents William Kroncke To “Send A Message” To Another Man Who Was Present To Report Yet Another Case Of Marengo Police Brutality
MARENGO, ILLINOIS – A man shown on a 2004 police surveillance video being shoved face first into a wall at the Marengo police station filed a $18.5 million federal civil lawsuit this week against the city, a former police officer and two Illinois State Police agents.
[ MBCN: From A Related Article: “When he came into the police station (Hedio) turned to me and said don’t talk to the cops without a lawyer and (officer) punched him the face,” claims Gaughan.]
The lawsuit, filed by Marengo resident Orest Hedio, claims officers from the two agencies beat him unconscious to “send a message” to a teenager watching the incident.
“Orest was just a pawn in their conspiracy to intimidate that young man,” Hedio attorney Albert Wysocki said Thursday.
As a result of the incident Hedio, 46, suffered permanent brain injuries that cause him to suffer seizures, private investigator Paul Ciolino said.
“The guy is a mess,” Ciolino said. “He’s got serious problems.”
Named as defendants in the lawsuit are the city of Marengo, former Marengo Police Chief Larry Mason, former city police officer David Mahlke and Illinois State Police agents Virgil Schroeder and William Kroncke.
State Police spokesman Lt. Lincoln Hampton declined comment on the lawsuit, but reiterated that an internal investigation by the agency and a second inquiry by the McHenry County State’s Attorney cleared Kroncke and Schroeder of wrongdoing.
Marengo Deputy Police Chief Joseph Hallman said he had not seen the lawsuit Thursday and therefore could not comment. Mahlke, who is now Wonder Lake’s police chief, could not be reached Thursday.
The video has been the source of an ongoing legal battle in the case of Marengo brothers Brian and Kevin Gaughan. The Gaughans, who also are suing the city and state police agents, accused former Marengo officer Scott Crawford of excessive force in 2004 after their arrest at a city festival.
Kroncke and Schroeder were questioning Kevin Gaughan, now 20, about that incident on Nov. 9, 2004, at the police station when Mahlke brought Hedio into the interrogation area.
A surveillance camera inside the station captured Mahlke shoving Hedio into a wall as Gaughan looks on. Kroncke then stands, approaches Hedio and makes a movement toward him that the Marengo man claims was a punch. Hedio then fell to the floor, apparently unconscious.
Hedio’s lawsuit claims the officers beat him in order to frighten Gaughan into recanting his excessive force claims against Crawford.
Both Kroncke and Mahlke have denied the allegations in court hearings on the Gaughans’ case. Both denied Hedio was punched and said their actions were necessary to get an intoxicated and belligerent person under control. Hedio at the time was in custody on a domestic battery charge.
Marengo Illinois Sued For $18.5 Million By Victim Of Police Beating Caught On Videotape - Man Beaten By Marengo Police Officer David Mahlke And Illinois State Police Special Agents William Kroncke To “Send A Message” To Another Man Who Was Present To Report Yet Another Case Of Marengo Police Brutality
MARENGO, ILLINOIS – A man shown on a 2004 police surveillance video being shoved face first into a wall at the Marengo police station filed a $18.5 million federal civil lawsuit this week against the city, a former police officer and two Illinois State Police agents.
[ MBCN: From A Related Article: “When he came into the police station (Hedio) turned to me and said don’t talk to the cops without a lawyer and (officer) punched him the face,” claims Gaughan.]
The lawsuit, filed by Marengo resident Orest Hedio, claims officers from the two agencies beat him unconscious to “send a message” to a teenager watching the incident.
“Orest was just a pawn in their conspiracy to intimidate that young man,” Hedio attorney Albert Wysocki said Thursday.
As a result of the incident Hedio, 46, suffered permanent brain injuries that cause him to suffer seizures, private investigator Paul Ciolino said.
“The guy is a mess,” Ciolino said. “He’s got serious problems.”
Named as defendants in the lawsuit are the city of Marengo, former Marengo Police Chief Larry Mason, former city police officer David Mahlke and Illinois State Police agents Virgil Schroeder and William Kroncke.
State Police spokesman Lt. Lincoln Hampton declined comment on the lawsuit, but reiterated that an internal investigation by the agency and a second inquiry by the McHenry County State’s Attorney cleared Kroncke and Schroeder of wrongdoing.
Marengo Deputy Police Chief Joseph Hallman said he had not seen the lawsuit Thursday and therefore could not comment. Mahlke, who is now Wonder Lake’s police chief, could not be reached Thursday.
The video has been the source of an ongoing legal battle in the case of Marengo brothers Brian and Kevin Gaughan. The Gaughans, who also are suing the city and state police agents, accused former Marengo officer Scott Crawford of excessive force in 2004 after their arrest at a city festival.
Kroncke and Schroeder were questioning Kevin Gaughan, now 20, about that incident on Nov. 9, 2004, at the police station when Mahlke brought Hedio into the interrogation area.
A surveillance camera inside the station captured Mahlke shoving Hedio into a wall as Gaughan looks on. Kroncke then stands, approaches Hedio and makes a movement toward him that the Marengo man claims was a punch. Hedio then fell to the floor, apparently unconscious.
Hedio’s lawsuit claims the officers beat him in order to frighten Gaughan into recanting his excessive force claims against Crawford.
Both Kroncke and Mahlke have denied the allegations in court hearings on the Gaughans’ case. Both denied Hedio was punched and said their actions were necessary to get an intoxicated and belligerent person under control. Hedio at the time was in custody on a domestic battery charge.