A recent lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois reveals a troubling encounter between law enforcement and a local resident, sparking concerns over civil liberties and police conduct. On April 30, 2025, Paul Little initiated legal action against Carroll County Sheriff Ryan Kloepping, several deputies, a Mount Carroll police officer, the City of Mount Carroll, and Carroll County itself. The complaint alleges violations of constitutional rights stemming from an incident involving an unwarranted entry into Little's home and his subsequent arrest.
The case revolves around events that transpired on May 11, 2024. Officers were investigating a domestic violence complaint involving Matthew Little, Paul Little's son. Despite lacking both an arrest warrant for Matthew and a search warrant for Paul’s residence, officers attempted to enter the home under the pretext of speaking with Matthew about the incident. When Paul Little insisted they obtain a warrant before entering, officers allegedly forced their way inside without consent or exigent circumstances. According to the complaint, this led to Paul's unlawful arrest and physical harm during the encounter.
Paul Little's legal team argues that the officers' actions violated established Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. The lawsuit highlights that no urgent circumstances justified bypassing warrant requirements; rather, officers merely intended to question Matthew about his side of a domestic dispute. The plaintiff claims that excessive force was used during his arrest—resulting in injuries—and he was falsely charged with obstruction simply for asserting his rights.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for physical and emotional harm suffered by Paul Little due to what he describes as an invasion of privacy and abuse of power by law enforcement officials. Additionally, it demands punitive damages aimed at deterring similar misconduct in the future. The plaintiff also requests declaratory relief to prevent further violations by Carroll County Sheriff's Office and Mount Carroll Police Department.
Representing Paul Little is attorney Corey Page from Evans & Page in San Francisco. The case has been assigned Case ID 3:25-cv-50202 but details regarding presiding judges are not specified within the document.