In a striking legal confrontation, a resident of Mount Prospect, Illinois, has taken the Village of Mount Prospect Police Department and associated entities to court over alleged violations of his constitutional rights. Dino Acquaviva filed the complaint on May 5, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the Village of Mount Prospect—Police Department, Officer Floyd, and the Northwest Central Dispatch System.
The lawsuit centers around allegations that Acquaviva has been systematically mistreated by law enforcement due to his bipolar disorder. He claims that this discrimination has led to numerous instances where his rights were violated. The complaint accuses Officer Floyd and other members of the police department of engaging in discriminatory practices by ignoring or undermining his reports of crimes, falsifying police reports, and contributing to his mistreatment based on disability. Acquaviva alleges that these actions are part of a broader pattern within the Mount Prospect Police Department (MPPD) that classifies certain residents as "non-credible" without due process.
Acquaviva's complaint is detailed with specific incidents highlighting what he describes as retaliatory behavior from law enforcement. On May 4, 2023, after being assaulted with a beverage cup thrown from a vehicle, he reported the incident only to be threatened with arrest instead of receiving assistance. This incident is one among many where he felt targeted rather than protected by those sworn to serve and protect him. In another instance from June 14, 2019, despite providing video evidence after being sprayed with chemicals by a neighbor, officers allegedly dismissed his report without action.
The plaintiff asserts that such conduct violates multiple federal protections including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Furthermore, he argues that these practices are entrenched within MPPD’s operations and extend beyond individual misconduct to institutional failure—a Monell claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983—asserting systemic issues within departmental policies and training.
Acquaviva seeks comprehensive relief from the court: compensatory damages for economic losses and emotional distress; punitive damages; declaratory judgments affirming violations of constitutional rights; injunctive relief mandating policy reforms within MPPD; attorney fees; and any further relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Represented by attorney Frank Avila from Frank Avila Law in Chicago, Acquaviva demands accountability for what he perceives as an ongoing violation of his civil liberties rooted in discriminatory practices against individuals with mental health conditions. The case ID is 1:25-cv-04950.