From [HERE] A Black man has filed a federal lawsuit against the city, and five Chicago police officers, accusing the officers of using excessive force when they shot him during an unlawful traffic stop two years ago. During the traffic stop he called 911.

The Independent Police Review Authority ruled the shooting of Antwon Golatte on Feb. 7, 2015, was unjustified, but his lawsuit accuses the city of dragging its feet on disciplining the officers until December 2016, nearly two years later.

The officers claimed Golatte tried to run them down after he was pulled over in the 300 block of West 115th Street, but the bullet holes in his car were all in the rear, and Golatte was acquitted of aggravated assault charges. The officers allegations were found to be baseless

On February 7, 2015, Golatte said he was out running errands traveling in his vehicle near 310 West 115th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60628 when Police Officers Jaime Gaeta and Harry Matheos notified Defendant Police Officers Matt Dercola and James Whigham by mobile phone, to conduct a traffic stop on Plaintiff.

Police Officers Jaime Gaeta and Harry Matheos arrived at the scene minutes later and the Officers without probable cause, or any other lawful basis seized Plaintiff for an excessive period. Golatte recognized Defendants Gaeta, Matheos, Dercola, from February 5, 2015, when they unconstitutionally searched and seized him by dumping his pizza onto the ground, made him stand barefoot in the snow, placed him in handcuffs, and searched his vehicle without his consent or a lawful basis.

“Then when I see their faces, I knew who they was. Fear came automatically,” he said.

On February 7, 2015, Golatte, fearful for his safety, called 911. As a result, Officers began yelling, using profanity, threatening violence, and pointed their firearms at him. Golatte lowered his driver’s side window in an attempt to communicate with Officers, to no avail.

Officer Gaeta then stood on the running board his car, grabbed the inside of his driver side window, pulled, and shattered the glass. was completely unarmed, had not committed any crime, and posed absolutely no threat to the Officers, or anyone else.

Nevertheless, Officers Gaeta and Matheos shot at Golatte at least five (5) times, injuring him. Three of the bullets entered Plaintiff’s side and pierced his stomach and rib cage, barely missing his lungs. To this day, bullet fragments remain trapped in Plaintiff’s body near his vital organs.

Golatte was transported to Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois after being shot, where he underwent lifesaving surgery.

Golatte, who had done absolutely nothing wrong, was neither arrested nor charged with a crime between February 7-10, 2015.

While in Christ Hospital, Plaintiff filed a complaint with the Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA) against Defendants and on July 14, 2016, IPRA found that “Officer Gaeta’s and Matheos’ use of deadly force was therefore objectively unreasonable and a violation of policy.” 

After realizing the severity of Plaintiff’s injuries, the cops each conspired to cover up the unconstitutional use of excessive force by Defendants Gaeta and Matheos. In this manner, Defendants, acting in concert with each other, conspired and acted together to cover up and prevent disclosure of the misconduct alleged above by engaging in the following non-exhaustive conduct: completing false, misleading and incomplete official reports; giving of false statements regarding the circumstances of their detention of Plaintiff; providing false testimony at trial; and inventing false claims to justify the use of excessive force.

To protect their fellow officer, and pursuant to a code of silence, each officer initiated and/or continued the false and malicious prosecution of Plaintiff although they knew they lacked probable cause.

According to the lawsuit the cops sole purpose in causing and continuing the false charges against Golatte was malicious in that it was done to cover up their wrongdoing. He was arrested and later incarcerated at the Cook County Jail, from February 14, 2015 until April 1, 2015.

“I can’t work, can’t stand too long period of times. Walking too long is like it’s hard to breathe. The chest gets tight,” he said. “The pressure on my left lung ain’t that good at all. My ribcage, nerve damage, permanent.”

Three days after the shooting, the Chicago Police Department revised its use of force policy to prohibit officers from shooting at or into a moving vehicle if no other weapons are displayed.

The IPRA investigation concluded Golatte had been wounded once and recommended the officer who shot him be disciplined. Police officials say the officer has been relieved of his police powers and put on desk duty.