Oct 16, 2007 9:59 pm US/Central
Man Awarded $4M In 3-Year Police Misconduct Battle
Victim Says He Was Assaulted With A Screwdriver During Drug Arrest
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Coprez Coffie was awarded $4 million after a three-year battle against the city and Chicago police. Coffie said an officer assaulted him with a screwdriver during a drug arrest.
CBS
A federal court jury awarded $4 million to a man who sued Chicago police and the city because of an assault by tactical officers he alleges occurred during a drug arrest.
As CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports, with one arm around his mother, the other around his attorney and a smile from ear to ear, Coprez Coffie celebrated the outcome of his three-year battle.
It was a battle which began with a traffic stop near Pulaski Road and Division Street, and centered on what happened in a nearby alley where Coffie was allegedly violated with a screwdriver.
"They pretended to investigate the same evidence this jury saw. Nine members of the community said they did it, why can't the police department see what everyone else can see?" said Coffie's attorney Jonathan Loevy.
A spokesperson for the city's law department says its "disappointed with the verdict," though the same department offered Coffie $4 million after the 2 week trial, which included testimony the victim's mother can't forget.
"They sit up there like they ain't did nothing," said Annette Coffie Tuesday afternoon. "They sit there like it's all right. My son doesn't have to lie about this. That hurt me to see him sit on the stand and talk about this."
While the original Office of Professional Standards investigation failed to recommend charges or disciplinary action, the department said Tuesday night it is "...reopening its investigation… to examine any new or different evidence...developed in the civil trial." "If appropriate" a spokesperson said, "OPS can recommend a new outcome, and will."
Repeated charges of Chicago police misconduct have resulted in a new OPS director and structure, early retirement for police Supt. Phil Cline, and the disbanding of an elite but trouble special operations unit.
"They need some real change because its not fair to the people of Chicago to have to keep paying jury verdicts," Loevy said.
The huge settlement was a huge turnaround for the city. Attorneys for the victim say the city originally offered $45,000.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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