Chicago, IL-(ENEWSPF)- A South Suburban Police Officer has been charged with intentionally injuring a teenager that he was taking into custody after the youth made a wisecrack to the officer in front of other teens, according to the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.
Lynell Porch, 39, was charged with Aggravated Battery (Class 3 felony), Filing a False Report (Class 3 felony) and Official Misconduct (Class 3 felony). Porch has been a patrolman with the Calumet Park Police Department since 2007.
According to prosecutors, on the evening of June 16, 2010, Porch and a partner responded to a call of drug activity at a carwash near 127th and Laflin in Calumet Park. When they arrived the officers approached the 16-year- old victim as well as several other teenagers with him and conducted a protective pat-down for drugs.
When no evidence of narcotics was found, Officer Porch introduced himself to the victim as the town’s new gang and narcotics officer, at which time the victim made a wisecrack and laughed at Porch, who then arrested and handcuffed him.
According to prosecutors, while Porch was leading the teen to his police vehicle, he allegedly raised the victim’s cuffed hands up behind his back causing him to lean forward and then swept his feet out in front, causing him to fall face first onto the concrete. The victim sustained a large abrasion to his face, cuts and bruises to his shoulder and knee, and a broken tooth.
“This type of conduct by officers who are sworn to uphold the law is absolutely unacceptable and it will not be tolerated,” Alvarez said.
Surveillance video later showed Porch removing the victim from his squad car by grabbing his throat after he transported him back to the Calumet Park Police Station and then pushing him on to a bench in the booking room.
Medical personnel were called to the station to treat the victim and later took him to an area hospital. The victim required a crown replacement and a root canal to repair his broken tooth.
After the attack, Porch filed official police reports claiming the victim resisted when he took him to custody and that the injuries were the result of him tripping when he purportedly broke free and attempted to run away as he was led to the squad car. This was contradicted by the four other teens with the victim as well as Porch’s partner.
Porch surrendered to authorities this morning and appeared in bond court at the Cook County Criminal Courts Building at 26th and California where Judge Donald Panarese set his bond at $75,000.
The public is reminded that charging documents contain allegations that are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which the state has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
