A shocking incident of alleged police misconduct has emerged from Chicago, where a man claims he was subjected to excessive force during a routine traffic stop. On April 30, 2025, Daniel A. Barba filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the City of Chicago and several of its police officers. The lawsuit accuses the officers of violating Barba's constitutional rights by using excessive force and failing to intervene during an incident that left him with serious injuries.
The complaint stems from an event on May 2, 2024, when Barba was driving through Chicago and was pulled over by Officers G. Gomez and M. Corral without any apparent legal justification. According to the lawsuit, after Barba's passenger fled on foot and was subsequently apprehended with an illegal firearm, additional officers arrived at the scene. Despite cooperating fully with law enforcement, Barba alleges that Officer Jose Sanchez used unnecessary force by throwing him to the ground without provocation, resulting in a fractured jaw. The complaint states that this action violated Barba's rights under the Fourteenth Amendment and constituted battery under state law.
Barba's lawsuit further claims that other officers present—C. Soto, A. Franco, K.N. Velasco, J. Hrusa—failed to intervene as required by law to prevent their colleague's misconduct. The plaintiff argues that these actions were part of a broader pattern or practice within the Chicago Police Department that encourages or condones such behavior.
In his filing, Barba seeks compensatory damages for his physical injuries and emotional distress caused by what he describes as false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress by all involved officers. He also demands punitive damages against Officer Sanchez for his direct role in causing harm through excessive force.
Represented by attorney Antonio L. Jeffrey from Jeffrey Law Office LLC, Barba calls for accountability not only from individual officers but also from the City of Chicago under doctrines like respondeat superior and indemnification obligations outlined in Illinois statutes.
The case is being heard before Judge [Name Not Provided] under Case ID 1:25-cv-04765.