Crime & Safety

Cop Accused Of Brutality Cleared In Court

Lieutenant Jason Leavitt was charged with excessively beating, kicking and choking two teens after they used slingshots to aim rocks at car windows. The Cook County State's Attorney's office said it's considering an appeal.

 

A Cook County judge Tuesday dismissed brutality charges against a Park Ridge Police Department lieutenant, Jason Leavitt, according to a statement from the department.

However, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office said it's reviewing its options on whether to appeal, Cbslocal.com is reporting. 

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Leavitt had been charged with official misconduct and using excessive force after a 2006 incident. He was accused of beating, choking and kicking two teenagers who were handcuffed, causing one to sustain a concussion, according to a 2010 Chicago Tribune article. 

The city of Park Ridge settled a lawsuit brought by one of the teen's families for $185,000 in 2009, according to the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate. 

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A 2010 investigation by the Cook County State's Attorney and FBI into the alleged brutality incidents in 2006 led to the charges, according to Park Ridge Police. Leavitt was arrested in November 2010 and has been on paid administrative leave ever since, according to the Park Ridge Herald Advocate. 

The 2006 incident involved two teens who were using slingshots to aim rocks at car windows, and they broke a window in Leavitt's personal car, according to CBSlocal.com. A Cook County state's attorney quoted in the CBSlocal.com story said Leavitt beat and kicked one teen while he was handcuffed and lying on the ground, and beat and choked the other teen while he was handcuffed and sitting in the squad car. 

Leavitt will return to duty, according to the Park Ridge Police Department statement, which added that steps will be taken to re-integrate him back into the department.

Park Ridge Police Chief Frank Kaminski, who took the helm of the department years after the Leavitt incident, will begin an internal investigation into the matter, according to the statement.


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