Patrons Sue Strip Club And Cops
HARVEY, Ill. (STMW) - Three patrons of a south suburban strip club claim that they were assaulted by employees and then again by the Harvey Police officers who arrested them.
Omar Alshwayat, Malek Azazi and Laith Alhammad claim they were patrons at Club O in Harvey on Jan. 3 and were assaulted without provocation by bouncer John Hamilton and other employees of the club, according to a suit filed Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court.
Hamilton and other club employees falsely accused Alshwayat and Azazi of criminal trespass and criminal battery, according to the suit.
The suit claims that Harvey police officers battered and used excessive force while arresting the trio and falsely imprisoned them. They were later acquitted of the charges, the suit says.
The six-count suit names the club, Hamilton, the city, and police officers. The suit claims battery, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and negligence.
The general manager for Club O, reached Tuesday night by phone, said she did not have a comment regarding the lawsuit.
Sandra Alvarado, spokeswoman for Harvey Police, said the department had not been served with the suit and were currently unable to comment.
The suit seeks unspecified damages.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
