Jul 1, 2009 11:30 am US/Central
Chicago Cop Charged With Hitting Suspect
Officer Craig Swistowicz Accused Of Violating Suspect's Civil Rights
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Federal authorities have charged a Chicago Police officer with striking a suspect and thus violating his constitutional rights.
Officer Craig H. Swistowicz, 38, was charged with depriving a man identified in a federal indictment only at J.P. of his civil rights by striking him and causing bodily injury.
When he struck J,P. on Sept. 13, 2007, Swistowicz was assigned to a federal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area group, federal officials said.
The U.S. Attorney's office claims that Swistowicz "willfully subjected an arrestee to unreasonable force by striking him in violation of his Fourth Amendment Rights."
If convicted, Swistowicz may be sent to prison for up to 10 years and be hit with a fine of $250,000, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
The U.S. Attorney's office release did not specify why J.P. was arrested, or whether the suspect was ever charged. The release did not give details of the arrest, other than to indicate that Swistowicz hit J.P.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin is prosecuting the case, since the office for the Northern District of Illinois has a conflict.
Swistowicz has been on the force since 1997.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Jewish Celebrities
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
