A Chicago resident has filed a lawsuit against the Village of Coal City, Illinois, and several of its police officers, alleging violations of his civil rights. Andre Alexander Harden-Rivera initiated the complaint on November 18, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against defendants including Chief Christopher Harseim and Officers Connor Goron, Kirstyn McKim, Nathan Stadler, and Bonnie Wieczorek.
The lawsuit arises from an incident on April 4, 2024, when Harden-Rivera was allegedly subjected to an unlawful arrest and search by Officer Connor Goron. According to the complaint, Goron followed Harden-Rivera's vehicle and demanded identification without probable cause. Despite invoking his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and requesting legal counsel, Harden-Rivera claims he was arrested for "obstructing identification," a charge he argues was baseless as no false information was provided. The plaintiff further alleges that after his arrest, officers conducted a warrantless search of his vehicle and seized his legally owned firearm without justification.
Harden-Rivera contends that these actions violated multiple constitutional rights under the Second, Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments. He accuses the defendants of unreasonable search and seizure, false arrest and imprisonment, violation of due process rights through destruction of evidence (body camera footage), and conspiracy to violate constitutional rights. The complaint highlights a systematic failure within the Coal City Police Department to preserve evidence critical to ongoing criminal proceedings.
The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages for emotional distress and loss of liberty caused by the alleged misconduct. He also demands punitive damages against individual defendants for their roles in perpetuating these violations. Additionally, Harden-Rivera requests declaratory relief regarding unconstitutional practices within the department and injunctive relief mandating changes in training protocols and evidence retention policies.
Representing himself pro se in this case is Andre Alexander Harden-Rivera. The case is presided over by Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman with Magistrate Judge Keri L. Holleb Hotaling assisting. The case ID is 1:24-cv-11842.