Politics & Government

Federal Lawsuit Against Village Claims Police Brutality, False Arrest

The suit alleges that Aaron Goodman was living in his Bolingbrook apartment on Sept. 26, 2009 when police entered the apartment building and severely beat him in the hallway before falsely arresting him.

A federal lawsuit filed by a former resident against the village and four of its police officers alleges the officers used excessive force in their false arrest of the plaintiff in September 2009.

The suit alleges that Aaron Goodman, now 30 and a resident of River Grove, was living in his Bolingbrook apartment with his fiancé and young son on Sept. 26, 2009 when police entered the building and severely beat him in the hallway with their fists and batons and Tasered him twice.

The beating was serious enough to cause Goodman serious bleeding from several wounds that required staples and stitches to close up, the suit says.

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The suit, which also says police falsely charged Goodman with felony and misdemeanour criminal offenses, was filed Sept. 26—two years to the day after the alleged offense took place.

Bolingbrook police declined to comment on the suit. Lt. Mike Rompa said the case is in its "very preliminary" stages.

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After the arrest, Goodman was not able to post bond and sat in jail for two weeks, causing the family to be evicted from their apartment, the suit says.

The suit names Bolingbrook officers Keedy, Moranda, Buitron and Kiska, but does not mention first names. Each officer had "reasonable opportunity to intervene to prevent (Goodman's) false arrest, but failed to do so," the suit says.

The criminal case has been pending for two years, the suit says. Goodman is seeking a jury trial and a substantial sum in punitive damages as well as costs, attorney's fees and other financial relief.


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