Jury Awards $1M To Chicago Man Wrongfully Accused Of Assaulting Cop

CHICAGO – A jury awarded $1 million to a Chicago man who spent a year in jail before he was found him not guilty of assaulting a police officer.

John Collins sued the city of Chicago for bringing an aggravated battery charge against him. A Cook County jury on Tuesday sided with Collins six years after a jury acquitted him of the criminal charge.

Collins contended police pulled him from a car parked in front of his home for no apparent reason and later struck him for questioning them on his arrest.

Police offered a different story in court, saying Collins was arrested after being seen drinking in the public way. They claimed Collins was combative.

Roderick Drew of Chicago’s Law Department says city officials are disappointed and are considering an appeal.