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Suit claims Ill. cops caused miscarriage

A woman claims Robbins police used excessive force during her arrest

By Police1 Staff

ROBBINS, Ill. — A woman is suing police in an Illinois suburb, alleging officers used excessive force during her arrest to the point of causing a miscarriage.

In October 2011, three Robbins officers approached Cherese Morris, who says they arrested her for no reason while she was talking on her cell phone, which she claims got knocked to the ground.

The suit states officers handcuffed Morris, whose shoulder reportedly “popped” just before she was “thrown” into the back of a police cruiser, where a TASER was deployed. According to the lawsuit, Morris lost consciousness shortly afterward and two weeks later, had a miscarriage.

Morris received charges of battery, criminal damage to property and resisting arrest, The Sun-Times reported. Prosecutors declined the first counts and dropped the resisting arrest charge.

The court filing names one defendant as Robbins Police Chief Johnny Holmes, who Morris and her lawyers allege acted with negligence by poorly supervising and training his officers.

Chicago newspapers who reported the lawsuit did not include references to any police reports documenting the incident.