Batavia Police Attacked Teenage Boy According To Suit

BATAVIA, Ill. (STMW) - A lawsuit filed Thursday claims Batavia Police officers attacked a man two years ago when he was a 17-year-old arrested for an alleged alcohol offense.

Benjamin Johnston claims that on Nov. 22, 2008, he was arrested by Batavia police during a traffic stop conducted while he was riding in a friend's vehicle, according to a suit filed in Cook County Circuit Court.

While at the police station, Johnston claims an officer punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground, then lunged on top of him and continued the attack. Another officer witnessed the incident and failed to stop the attack.

The suit claims Johnston was then grabbed by the officer under his left armpit and handcuffed to a bench. It claims he was bleeding and officers failed to provide timely medical assistance.

The officers also filed false written reports of the attack, according to the suit.

Johnston was eventually given medical attention and accompanied to a hospital by the officer who attacked him in an attempt to further intimidate and harass him, according to the suit.

The nine-count suit claims excessive force, assault and battery, failure to protect, and failure to provide medical attention.

The suit names the officers and the Village of Batavia, and seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorneys' fees and other relief.

A spokesman for the Batavia Police Dept. was not immediately available to comment.

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