Man says he was battered, unlawfully detained at Tony's Finer Foods

A Chicago resident is suing a grocery store over claims its loss prevention agent unlawfully detained him.

Thomas Hodson filed suit Dec. 18 in Cook County Circuit Court against Tony's Finer Foods Enterprises Inc. and an unknown loss prevention agent, alleging negligence, false arrest/false imprisonment and battery.

According to the complaint, Hodson was in the Tony’s at 4137 N. Elston Ave. in Chicago with some friends on Jan. 1, 2013, when he bought some items and an employee accused him or his friends of stealing.

After the dispute had been resolved, Holdson claims the loss prevention agent followed him out the store, cursing him and then taking him to the ground, causing him to strike his head and body. He contends the agent refused to provide help.

When police arrived, the suit states officers refused to arrest Hodson, and ordered the store agent to release him.

Hodson is suing the company for damages and is represented by attorneys with Gottreich & Grace in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2014L013052.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt and represents only one side of the story.