Nov. 17--Attorneys for the city of North Chicago have agreed to pay $3 million to settle a lawsuit from the family of Darrin Hanna, who died one week after being beaten and repeatedly shocked with a Taser by police.
City officials and police did not admit any wrongdoing in the case, which sparked a public outcry and brought to light a series of police brutality allegations in the northern suburb.
After legal fees and costs, the remaining $1.9 million of the settlement is to be shared by Hanna's adult son and his young daughter, who was born after Hanna's death in November 2011.
Hanna's mother, Gloria Carr, said she still hopes to see the officers involved face criminal charges.
"I want them charged with murder," she said, "because if this was turned around and Darrin had beaten one of them, he would be in prison today. It's just not fair that they should get away with this."
The seven officers who were named in the lawsuit -- Tristan Borzick, Gary Grayer, Marc Keske, Brandon Yost, Arthur Strong, Jason Geryol and Sgt. Salvatore Cecala -- along with Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. and former Chief Michael Newsome, were dismissed as part of the settlement and won't have to pay.
On Nov. 6, 2011, police stormed an apartment where Hanna, who had a lengthy arrest record, was reported to be beating his pregnant girlfriend. When Hanna lunged at them, police reported, one officer grabbed him and both men fell to the floor. As Hanna resisted, police said, he tried to bite and head-butt them, but officers repeatedly hit and shocked him until they were able to get handcuffs on him.
The Lake County Coroner's office found multiple bruises on Hanna's arms and sides and counted 11 Taser burns, and found that wounds inflicted by police were a factor in his death a week later at age 45. Then-coroner Artis Yancey also cited Hanna's cocaine abuse, high blood pressure and poor kidney function, and the cause of death was listed as multiple organ failure connected to sickle cell trait.
After an internal investigation, the city announced it was firing Yost for repeatedly punching Hanna in the face, and suspended Strong for 30 days without pay.
Illinois State Police investigated the case, and the Lake County State's Attorney's office, under former top prosecutor Michael Waller, reviewed it but declined to press charges.
In April 2012, the U.S. Department of Justice announced it was conducting a preliminary inquiry into Hanna's death. Carr said an FBI agent contacted her as recently as this summer, but the department never made any additional announcement on the matter. City attorney Chuck Smith said it had been years since he heard anything from them.
"All the law enforcement agencies that looked at the officers' conduct universally said there was no criminal conduct," Smith said.
In response to Hanna's death, the mayor said the city has worked with the Carr family to improve relations between the police and the community, including creating a citizens police advisory board, which reviews cases with city and police officials, and recommends changes in response.
Carr said she too believes the department has improved under Chief James Jackson.
A 2012 Tribune investigation found that in the four years before Hanna's death, the department's reports showed use of force incidents increased every year, peaking at 28 in 2011. Ten federal lawsuits had been filed against the city in that time, eventually leading to payments of $1.4 million to settle complaints of excessive force.
But since the Hanna case, there have been no further lawsuits filed claiming police brutality, and virtually no complaints, Smith said.
He attributed the drastic improvement to better training in use of force and sensitivity to citizens, and to the 2012 appointment of Jackson, a former Chicago police commander. Newsome, the former chief, was placed on paid leave in January 2012 as the city investigated brutality claims. Later that year, he was charged with stealing from the department but has yet to stand trial.
Rockingham credited Carr with helping to keep protests peaceful, in contrast to more violent protests over police shootings elsewhere.
"I feel that we've been moving in the right direction," Rockingham said. "Police have a tough road. Our community and our nation have to be sure we watch each and every officer ... and see if they're handling themselves appropriately."
rmccoppin@tribpub.com
