Officer Stripped Of Powers Amid Brutality Probe
Spa Manager Accuses Officers Of Hate Crime, Excessive Force
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An officer involved in an incident that prompted a police brutality lawsuit has been stripped of his police powers, pending the outcome of an investigation.
WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger reports Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said an investigation into the actions of officers involved in a raid at a tanning salon last summer is in the hands of the Independent Police Review Authority, which recommended one officer immediately be placed on administrative leave.
Jessica Klyzek, manager of Copper Tan and Spa, has filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming she was struck in the head from behind while handcuffed and kneeling on the ground. She also accused officers of a hate crime, and her attorneys have released video showing officers striking Klyzek, and another officer threatening her life, and spouting racially-charged comments.
In the video, an officer can be heard telling Klyzek she is not American, and he would put her in a UPS box and ship her back to wherever she came from. Klyzek is from China but is a U.S. citizen since 2011.
The same officer also is heard warning her that the salon's owner would kill her and her family.
Police were raiding the salon at the time on suspicion of prostitution, but that case was later dropped. So were charged Klyzek hit and scratched officers.
McCarthy said, if Klyzek's allegations are proven true, such behavior by his officers is unacceptable.
"We draw police officers from the public at large, and as human beings we make mistakes. So it happens. Everybody has bad days, and unfortunately we're held to a standard that we're not allowed to have bad days," McCarthy said.
The superintendent said the Police Department puts officers through rigorous training to avoid such incidents.
