In a recent court filing, Jarvis Mathis has lodged a civil complaint against the City of Chicago and three Chicago Police Officers—R. Collins, M. Ferguson, and J. Helsternwood—alleging malicious prosecution and other constitutional violations. The complaint was filed on May 23, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
According to the complaint, Mathis accuses the defendants of violating his civil rights under color of law during an incident that occurred on December 31, 2021. On that evening, Mathis was standing on a sidewalk near 226 W. 107th Place in Chicago when police officers arrived following a ShotSpotter notification indicating gunshots in the area. ShotSpotter is a technology used by police departments to detect gunfire; however, it has been criticized for its unreliability during holidays like New Year's Eve.
The plaintiff alleges that upon arrival, Officers Collins, Ferguson, and Helsternwood immediately began yelling at him and three other men before physically detaining them. Officer Collins reportedly observed a gun on the ground and questioned who had thrown it but received no response from any of the detained individuals. Despite not witnessing Mathis throw or possess a firearm, Officer Collins handcuffed him along with the other men present.
The complaint further asserts that Officers Collins and Ferguson conspired to falsely arrest Mathis for possession of the firearm based on fabricated evidence. Specifically, they allegedly filed a false police report claiming body-worn camera footage showed Mathis throwing the weapon to the ground—a claim contradicted by actual footage showing Mathis without a gun when approached by Officer Collins.
As a result of these actions, Mathis was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and spent several days in custody until his family could post bond. His case lingered for over two years before being dismissed (nolle prosequi) on April 23, 2024.
The complaint highlights broader issues within the Chicago Police Department (CPD), noting that Officer Collins is part of a group under investigation for misconduct including unlawful searches and falsifying reports. The lawsuit also references ongoing litigation against CPD for misuse of ShotSpotter alerts leading to numerous illegal stops and arrests predominantly in poorer neighborhoods.
Mathis claims he suffered significant damages due to this alleged misconduct including loss of freedom, emotional distress, physical injury, and financial losses. He seeks compensatory damages as well as punitive damages against the individual officers involved.
Representing Jarvis Mathis is attorney Christopher R. Smith from Christopher Smith Trial Group LLC based in Chicago. The case will be presided over by an assigned judge from the Northern District of Illinois under Case ID: 1:24-cv-04278.