Lawyer Suing Park Ridge Cops Over 'Systemic' Misconduct

PARK RIDGE, Ill. (CBS) -- A suburban attorney has filed a lawsuit against Park Ridge police, accusing them of using excessive force during an arrest two years ago, saying "this is a systemic problem with them."

As CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports, Randy Baudin said he's just one of many victims of brutality by Park Ridge officers.

Baudin admitted he and a nurse got into an argument at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge two years ago when he went to see his gravely ill mother.

But he said he wasn't behaving in an unruly or criminal manner.

Even so, he ended up in handcuffs after police arrived in the middle of that argument.

Baudin claims that when officers arrived, he simply turned around to leave the hospital, but officers jumped him.

"My arm felt like it was ripped out of the socket," Baudin said. "And then, at that point, I heard them say 'Now he's resisting,' and the cuffs came on tighter than they would if they needed to handcuff my grandson. … I wasn't even moving."

Baudin was charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

He said his shoulder was permanently injured. Now he's suing the police department and claims he's one in a long line of Park Ridge police misconduct victims.

"This is a systemic problem with them," he said.

His lawsuit lists several other alleged victims of excessive force, including Gavin Farley, who was just 15 years old when Park Ridge Police LT. Jason Leavitt allegedly beat him and slammed his head into a sidewalk.

Leavitt was indicted last fall for that crime.

The suit also lists Gregory Gorman, who has claimed that Park Ridge officers arrested his wife for a DUI and him for disorderly conduct and obstructing justice during a 2004 traffic stop, even though police video indicated no crimes were committed.

"It was a violent thing that they did and it hurt," Gorman said. "And the bad part about it was my daughter, who was six years old, was sitting in the back seat. … She was crying."

The charges against the Gormans were later dropped. They sued the department and settled.

Current Park Ridge Police Chief Frank Kaminski was brought in 19 months ago to address internal problems.

Baudin said he hopes "that there can be some cleaning up in Park Ridge."

Baudin was convicted on the charges against him, but he's appealing.

Kaminski said he backs his officers in that case.

Regarding the cleanup of the police department, Kaminski said the department has revised their citizen complaint process and has a citizen oversight committee to restore trust.

But other past misconduct victims said they're still skeptical.