A man who spent 35 years in prison for a crime he insists he did not commit is now seeking justice through the courts. Brian Beals, who was released from prison on December 12, 2023, after his conviction was vacated by a Cook County court, has filed a lawsuit against the City of Chicago and several former police officers. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on December 11, 2024. The defendants named in the case include Judy Krizek as Special Representative for Thomas Ptak (deceased), Michael Duffin, Patrick R. Doyle Jr., Michael J. Wilson, and the City of Chicago.
The lawsuit details a harrowing story of alleged misconduct by members of the Chicago Police Department that led to Beals' wrongful conviction in 1990 for the murder of six-year-old Demetrius Campbell and aggravated battery of his mother, Valerie Campbell. According to Beals' attorneys from Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge LLC and Romanucci & Blandin LLC, there was no physical evidence linking Beals to the crime scene, nor did he have any motive to commit such an act. Instead, they argue that corrupt police practices were at play.
Beals’ complaint accuses Detective Thomas Ptak and other officers of fabricating evidence and manipulating witnesses to falsely identify him as the shooter. The lawsuit claims that Valerie Campbell was coerced into identifying Beals under duress shortly after being shot herself while holding her dying child. The suit also alleges that police buried exculpatory evidence and intimidated witnesses into providing false testimony.
Beals maintains his innocence throughout his incarceration and worked towards helping others during his time behind bars by teaching fellow inmates how to read and about civics. He also engaged in creative writing, earning accolades for plays he wrote while imprisoned.
The complaint highlights systemic issues within the Chicago Police Department at the time, including a pattern of coercing false witness statements and suppressing exculpatory evidence—a practice allegedly condoned by higher-ups within the department. This misconduct reportedly extended beyond Beals’ case to other wrongful convictions linked to Detective Ptak.
In seeking justice, Beals is asking for compensatory damages for loss of liberty, emotional distress, lost wages, and other injuries sustained due to his wrongful conviction. He is also pursuing punitive damages against those responsible for their alleged malicious actions.
The case has drawn attention due to its implications on policing practices in Chicago during a period marked by numerous allegations of misconduct within its police force. Attorneys representing Beals are determined to hold those accountable who played roles in what they describe as "a grave miscarriage of justice."
Representing Brian Beals are attorneys from Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge LLC along with Romanucci & Blandin LLC. The case is presided over by Judge [Name] under Case ID: 1:24-cv-12713.