Paralyzed man says Chicago cops dragged, beat him

[July 25, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- A paralyzed man claimed in a lawsuit Thursday that seven Chicago police officers dragged him from a car and beat him unconscious when he was too slow to obey their order to get out of the vehicle.

Daniel Casares claims the officers engaged in excessive use of force and battery. His federal lawsuit against the city and seven officers asks for unspecified damages.

Casares is a quadriplegic as a result of a car accident four years before the traffic stop, his attorney Blake Horwitz said.

In October 2006, the seven officers stopped a car in which Casares was riding in the passenger seat. His complaint says the officers asked him to get out and when he didn't do so immediately they dragged him out, and some or all the officers allegedly kicked Casares while he was on the ground.

Casares was convicted of battery and resisting arrest in the traffic stop. He received court supervision and is appealing his conviction.

A spokeswoman for the city law department, Jenny Hoyle, declined to comment because she said she hadn't seen the complaint.

[Associated Press]

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