A Normal woman has filed a federal lawsuit against unnamed police officers accusing them of violating her civil rights during an investigation into an apartment fire.
Taylor Brown agreed to go to the Normal Police Department to answer questions following a Feb. 8 fire, but left the department after she was left alone for 40 minutes in a room, according to the lawsuit the college student filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois.
Authorities said the fire in the 200 block of Parktrail Road in Normal was under investigation.
Brown questioned a female officer’s request for her cell phone, said the court filing. The woman alleges that she was surrounded by officers as she was talking on FaceTime to her mother, who is a Chicago police officer.
“The officers proceeded to grab Ms. Brown’s wrists, and one officer applied pressure to the back of Ms. Brown’s ear while another officer pulled her to the ground. One officer placed his/her knee in Ms. Brown’s back,” states the lawsuit.
Brown was handcuffed, arrested and taken to the McLean County jail where she was subjected to what she terms “an intrusive search.” No charges were filed.
A search warrant was requested, but never approved, for Brown’s cell phone, she alleges in the complaint.
The four-count lawsuit alleges constitutional violations for false arrest and excessive force by officers. Two other claims are based on an officer’s alleged failure to intervene during misconduct and battery.
The lawsuit filed by Naperville lawyer Abby D. Bakos Brown seeks unspecified damages.
The Normal Police Department declined to comment on the lawsuit.
