Chicago Police Officers Settle False Arrest Suit
by Christopher Zoukis
A Chicago man, who was arrested and prosecuted for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, agreed to an undisclosed settlement with four officers of the Chicago Police Department.
On October 24, 2007, Robinson Morales happened to be standing near some younger kids who were fighting. When police arrived, they arrested Morales, who was allegedly not breaking any law, based on a prior relationship he had with the police. Morales went to jail and to court over the charges.
On February 5, 2008, Morales filed a federal lawsuit against Chicago Police Officers Godfrey, Marazogas, Stankus and Murtaugh for false arrest, seeking $25,000 in compensatory damages and $10,000 in punitive damages.
The case against Godfrey and Marazogas was voluntarily dismissed, and Judge William T. Hart dismissed the case against Stankus and Murtaugh after a settlement was reached.
See: Morales v. P.O. Godfrey, et al., United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Case No. 1:08-cv-00772 (Oct. 6, 2008)
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