CHICAGO (AP) - A Chicago man beaten by a transit police officer in 2015 and wrongly jailed for nearly two years has received a $225,000 settlement from the Metra commuter railroad.
Attorneys for D’Nardo Mack say he was “unjustifiably attacked” at Millennium Station in Chicago by former Metra Officer David Robertson, The Daily Herald reported. Mack was initially charged with five criminal offenses, including resisting arrest and unlawful use of a deadly weapon.
“The fact that Mr. Mack remained in prison for 21 months for crimes he did not commit is simply unacceptable,” said defense attorney Martin D. Gould.
Railroad spokesman Michael Gillis said Metra believes the settlement is fair for both parties.
But authorities said surveillance video shows Robertson punching and spraying Mack with pepper spray unprovoked. The video also shows other officers hitting Mack with batons and punching him.
Robertson has been charged with aggravated battery. Metra officials said two other officers involved were terminated.
“As an agency that now prides itself on having a well-run and professional police force, and after our own investigation into the matter, we are disturbed and deeply troubled by this conduct,” Metra Executive Director Don Orseno said in October. “This conduct is unacceptable to us and will not be tolerated. It is not representative of the culture and standards of the Metra Police Department.”
Robertson’s attorney maintains his innocence and has said he’ll be exonerated.
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Information from: Daily Herald, http://www.dailyherald.com
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