On May 10, 2011, Cordell Edmonds and Jesus Poppel filed a Section 1983 lawsuit against two Dolton police officers, Officer Griffin and Officer Coleman, alleging excessive force, false arrest and failure to intervene.
The case arises from a June 20, 2009, incident in which Edmonds and Poppel, who are brothers, were arrested and charged with resisting arrest and battery to a peace officer. According to the complaint, Edmonds was walking towards his car on Chicago Road in Dolton when Defendant-Officer Griffin approached him and punched him in the face. When Poppel tried to find out why his brother was being beaten, other police officers took Poppel to the ground. Both brothers were charged with battering the officers.
The plaintiffs are represented by the law firm Smith, Johnson & Antholt. The case is pending before Judge Robert W. Gettleman in the Northern District of Illinois.
