UPTOWN — A 39-year-old black man, who spent 10 years in jail on bogus drug charges, is suing the four Chicago Police Department officers who allegedly framed him to win a false felony conviction.
In 2006, Jermaine Walker was a college student on a full-ride scholarship at Fisk University. He was studying computer science and researching superconductivity before his studies and life were sidetracked, according to a news release issued by his legal team.
After exiting the parking lot of J.J. Peppers near the intersection of Lawrence Avenue and Sheridan Road in Uptown, officers pulled over Walker and his brother. Officers directed the pair to an alley, where they allegedly beat Walker, planted drugs on him and accused him of selling to officers, according to the release.
As officers beat him, Walker "loudly noted" there were several cameras in the alley so it would be "stupid" to sell drugs at the location.
He was later convicted of possessing drugs within 1,000 feet of a school, but in March of this year the charges were overturned and he was granted a Certificate of Innocence, according to the release from civil rights firm Loevy & Loevy, who are handling the case.
The incident occurred at Weiss Plaza. In August 2015, officers reclaimed the plaza for the community at CPD's "National Night Out," referring to it as a "gang-infested area" that "we've made a lot of strides in."
After the arrest, investigator Thomas Finnelly was sent by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office to photograph the scene, making note of any cameras, but his photos intentionally omitted the cameras, the release said.
At Walker's trial, Finnelly and officers testified that there weren't any cameras. Ten years later, public defender Ingrid Gill reinvestigated the case and discovered the hidden evidence, the release said.
“It is very disturbing and upsetting, especially as a judge, to be involved in a system where an officer, especially an officer of the court, would come in and swear under oath to something that was not true,” Judge Catherine Haberkorn said after setting Walker free.
Thursday, Loevy & Loevy announced a lawsuit, naming officers Michael White, Eric Reyes, Sebastian Flatley and Brian Daly for their involvement in the false conviction. The firm will discuss the case in more detail Thursday afternoon.
The officers and investigator have received 56 complaints between them, but only three incidents were "sustained" resulting in punishment, according to the Citizen's Data Project, which has compiled complaints against officers between 2002-2008 and 2011-2015.
Flatley has received the most complaints during the time period, racking up 29 for use of force, illegal search, lockup procedures, false arrest and a number of undisclosed complaints. Only one of the complaints was sustained landing him a 15-day suspension. It was for use of force, according to the Data Project.
Brian Daly was accused 13 times, with complaints ranging from use of force, illegal search and lock up procedures. Two of the complaints were sustained and he was suspended for a total of 14 days, the data shows. Daly was apparently promoted to detective in February 2013.
Michael White also had 10 complaints stemming from illegal search, personnel violations and use of force, but none of the complaints were sustained. Finnelly also had four complaints that were undisclosed and not sustained, the data shows.
A copy of the lawsuit is available here.
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