The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating a Chicago Police officer who was shown on video apparently punching a handcuffed black man in the back of the head after the man fell on a sidewalk, the man’s attorney said.
Officers had been called to Keeler Avenue in West Garfield Park around 11 p.m. Friday after a tip of a person with a gun.
There, Sterlin Boston, 28, was seen by police officers “gambling on the sidewalk,” Cook County prosecutors said during Boston’s bond court hearing Saturday.
Boston did not match the description of the gunman, Assistant State’s Attorney Emily Czerniejewski said.
As officers tried to take Boston — now handcuffed — into custody, a small crowd formed around the officers, resulting in some shoving by those gathered and the police, the video shows.
After officers push away one man, Boston and one of the two officers fell onto a grassy area next to the road, with Boston’s face landing on the edge of the sidewalk, the video shows.
The officer then punched Boston three times in the back of the head while holding him down, Boston’s attorney says.
CPD released a statement to the Chicago Sun-Times on Sunday announcing the COPA investigation.
The Sun-Times obtained the video from David Gaeger, Boston’s attorney, who said it was filmed at the scene by a person who requested anonymity. The video circulated on some social media platforms Friday night.
According to the police report presented during Saturday’s bond court hearing, Boston tried to break away once and later kicked an officer “three times in the shin” during the scuffle.
Gaeger denied those claims when reached Sunday, calling them “phantom kicks” and saying the video proves they did not occur.
In addition to the initial misdemeanor gambling charge, Boston picked up a felony charge of aggravated battery to a peace officer for the alleged kicking.
He was also charged with felony possession of a controlled substance — police at the station found a small bag of suspected heroin on his person, according to the police report — and a resisting arrest misdemeanor.
Boston asked repeatedly why he was being arrested but was never given a reason at the scene, and he had preexisting wounds on his hands that began to bleed because of the handcuffs, Gaeger said during the hearing.
Boston is a Glenbard South High School graduate and current Home Depot forklift operator with two children, Gaeger said. Friday’s incident happened in front of his own residence, Gaeger said.
Court records show Boston was arrested last June for aggravated discharge of a firearm and released on bail in February.
On Saturday, Judge Charles Beach held Boston on $10,000 bail for the new charges and temporarily without bail for violating bond conditions in the previous case. He will have a violation of bail bond hearing Monday, Gaeger said.
Breaking: COPA is investigating a Chicago Police officer for the arrest of Sterlin Boston on Friday night.
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) June 14, 2020
This video, obtained by the Sun-Times, shows the officer repeatedly punching Boston, his attorney says. Boston was arrested for “gambling on the sidewalk,” per CPD. pic.twitter.com/p4Z84eziJ8
