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COOK COUNTY RECORD

Monday, November 4, 2024

Man Alleges Village Police Violated Civil Rights in Unlawful Home Entry

Federal Court
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A man alleges his civil rights were violated when police unlawfully entered his home and falsely arrested him. On September 16, 2024, Denzel Edwards filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the Village of Maywood and Sergeant Babicz.

According to the complaint, on September 17, 2022, Edwards was at his residence on South 2nd Avenue in Maywood when Sergeant Babicz and other unidentified officers entered without a search or arrest warrant. Edwards claims that Babicz had no consent or legal justification for entering his home. After forcibly entering, Babicz allegedly arrested Edwards without any evidence or probable cause. The complaint states that Babicz falsely accused Edwards of slamming a door into his knee to justify the arrest. "Plaintiff did not slam a door into any part of Babicz’s body," reads the document.

Following the arrest, Edwards was transported to the Maywood Police Department where Babicz signed a false criminal complaint accusing him of battery. This led to a criminal prosecution in Cook County that lasted nearly two years before being dismissed on September 16, 2024. Edwards asserts that these actions caused him significant emotional distress and humiliation.

Edwards' lawsuit seeks multiple forms of relief including general damages for emotional distress, special damages, attorney's fees under Section 1988 of Title 42 of the United States Code and other applicable laws, punitive damages against individuals other than the Village of Maywood, and costs incurred from the suit. The plaintiff also requests further relief as deemed just by the court.

Representing Edwards is Ed Fox & Associates Ltd., with Garrett Browne as lead attorney. The Case No. is: 24-cv-8486.

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