In a dramatic legal filing, an individual has brought forth serious allegations against multiple defendants, including a township supervisor and police department, accusing them of violating his civil rights through violent retaliation. The complaint was filed by Jedidiah Brown in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on February 12, 2025, targeting Tiffany Henyard and several others.
The case revolves around an incident that occurred during a Thornton Township meeting on January 28, 2025. Jedidiah Brown, known for his critical stance against Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard, alleges that he was violently attacked after making public comments at the meeting. According to the complaint, Kamal Woods and Demarcus Criggley verbally threatened Brown before physically assaulting him. The situation escalated when Henyard allegedly struck Brown with a microphone while he was on the ground. Further accusations include involvement from security personnel employed by Allpoints Security and Detective Inc., who reportedly failed to de-escalate the altercation and instead contributed to it by restraining and assaulting Brown in a separate room.
Brown's lawsuit claims violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for First Amendment retaliation and due process violations under the Fourteenth Amendment. He asserts that his right to free speech was suppressed through intimidation and violence orchestrated by Henyard and her associates. Additionally, Brown accuses South Holland Police Department and Thornton Township of negligence for failing to maintain order despite knowing about past contentious meetings.
Seeking justice, Brown demands compensatory damages for physical injuries sustained during the attack, punitive damages for malicious conduct by all defendants involved, declaratory relief acknowledging constitutional violations, injunctive relief mandating improved security protocols at public meetings, as well as attorneys' fees and costs pursuant to federal law.
Represented by Matthew R. Custardo of Custardo Law LLC, Jedidiah Brown aims to hold those responsible accountable while ensuring such incidents do not recur in future township meetings. The case is identified as Case No: 1:25-cv-01514 with proceedings yet to unfold under an unnamed judge's oversight.