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Chicago Police Officer Charged With Hitting Man With Baton In 2014

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Chicago police officer has been charged with aggravated battery and official misconduct, for allegedly hitting a man in the face with a baton at a block party in Lawndale in 2014.

Officer Brett Kahn appeared in bond court Thursday afternoon and was released on his own recognizance.

The incident was recorded on cell phone video as police officers arrived at the scene of a block party at 15th and Christiana on July 12, 2014. In the video released by the Independent Police Review Authority, Kahn can be seen pinning Lisa Simmons against the hood of a squad car and cuffing her.

Less than a minute later, as officers were taking Simmons to a waiting police van, Kahn can be heard telling people "get out of the street or you're going to jail," and then grabbing Jeremiah Smith and hitting him in the face with his service baton, knocking Smith's baseball cap off his head.

Log#1071320 - 3rd party footage by COPA Chicago on Vimeo

Log#1071320 - 3rd party footage from IPRA Chicago on Vimeo.

Smith and Simmons both were arrested. Smith was charged with felony battery, resisting arrest, and unlawful use of a weapon. According to Smith's arrest report, police said he grabbed Kahn's arm and threw a punch, prompting Kahn to strike Smith with his Baton. Kahn also said he found a knife in Smith's pocket.

Smith later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery. According to a lawsuit he and Simmons filed against the city, he pleaded guilty to get out of jail after 12 days in custody.

Simmons was charged with drinking alcohol in public, but charges later were dropped.

The lawsuit Smith and Simmons filed against the city has been settled, according to court records, but terms of the settlement were not available.

A Chicago Police spokesperson says Kahn has been relieved of his police powers since the incident. He's on desk duty.

 

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