PO-PO, individual beaten by Forest Park police [FP]

On Wednesday, March 1, Edison Reformado was beaten and Tasered multiple times while being apprehended by Officer Gross. Reformado contends he is the victim of inappropriate police brutality. The felony charge of assaulting a police officer was dropped and Reformado received a $290 fine, community service and court supervision.

For more pictures of Reformado's injuries see Shutterfly.com.

I have excerpted text from the Forest Park Police Department's official documents.

Officer Weiler's report of the injuries provides the shortest summary.

Offense/incident report Forest Park Police 1. Case # 0803-00879
2. Unusual Jail Occurrence 3. Injured Prisoner

Reformado was involved in a fight on the sidewalk in front of Duffy’s Tavern (CR#0603-00677). Reformado punched Ofc. Gross in the head as Gross intervened. As Ofc. Gross attempted to arrest Reformado, Reformado actively resisted Gross’ efforts to handcuff him and several unknown persons assisted Gross in bringing Reformado to the ground. While on the ground, Reformado continued to aggressively struggle to prevent the arrest. At some point in the fight and during his struggle with Ofc. Gross, Reformado suffered several cuts, abrasions, and swelling to his face and head.

At 517 Desplaines, FP #408 arrived at 0146hrs to treat Reformado for his injuries. Reformado refused all medical treatment. ET Ofc. Grimes took photos of Reformado’s injuries.

36. Reporting officer’s name: S. Weiler

Officer Gross' report provides the most detail.

Offense/incident report Forest Park Police 1. 0803-00677
2. Disturbance 3. Battery to Police Officer

8. Duffy’s – Sidewalk – Street 9. 01Mar06 0127 HRS

11. Victim’s name Ofc. K. Gross #234

31. Offenders name Reformado, Edison R., Male, “White”, Age 19, Complexion “Olive”, 6’00”, 170#, Brown/Brown

72. Charge: Battery to a PO; Resisting Arrest; Unlawful Use of License; Underage Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor

“The following is in summary and not verbatim: While on patrol in an unmarked squad car and in plain clothes I observed a small crowd in front of the above location and two male subjects involved in a physical fight. I stopped my car and observed two more subjects exit the bar and begin to fight, one now known as Reformado. I called in the disturbance via radio and exited my squad car. I was wearing a full duty belt and an exterior, body armor carrier with a star and “Forest Park Police” embroidered upon the left chest and my last name, “Gross,” embroidered upon the right chest. The star, Forest Park Police and Gross were visible as I exited the auto. As I approached the disturbance, Reformado walked backwards towards me as the subject he was fighting ran in an easterly direction. I grabbed Reformado by his right shoulder and verbally identified myself as a police officer telling Reformado to “relax.” Reformado looked at me themtowards my badge and with a closed fist struck me in the left side of the head in the area of my jaw and temple, causing me to drop back a few steps. I grabbed Reformado to place him in custody and Reformado fought my attempts to cuff him. I deployed my Taser X28 with the probes from the device landing in Reformado’s jacket, though I do not believe Reformado felt the effects of the Taser. As I was deploying the Taser, patrons of the bar came to my aid, tackling Reformado to the ground. One of the patrons, Vigneri, who is an off duty security guard, had a pair of handcuffs and began attempting to cuff Reformado. I was assisting Vigneri and others who were attempting to place Reformado in custody with Reformado fighting and pulling his arms away from all trying to control him. With the Taser I “drive stunned” Reformado an unknown number of times in an attempt to get him to comply as I continued to yell for him to stop fighting and put his hands behind his back. The Taser did not seem to affect Reformado’s behavior. Ofc. M. Scislowicz #243 arrived and assisted in trying to handcuff Reformado. During the melee, Reformado kicked Ofc. Scislowicz in the leg, ripping Ofc. Scislowicz’s pants. Reformado kept resisting attempts to be handcuffed and I struck him several times in the right side of the face with a closed right fist. Reformado still fought attempts to be handcuffed. Reformado was eventually forced into handcuffs and placed into a squad car.

“Other Forest Park, Oak Park and River Forest Units arrived to assist as we were struggling with Reformado. Officers on scene learned from witnesses that Fiorito was at the above business with Reformado consuming alcoholic beverages. Fiorito is alleged to have jumped on others and me as we were struggling with Reformado, though I did not witness this nor did other officers on scene. Fiorito smelled of alcoholic beverages. It was learned that Fiorito was under 21 years of age. Fiorito was placed in custody for underage consumption by a minor. Three pieces of identification were recovered from Fiorito’s left, rear pants pocket by Ofc. D. Preiwisch #222….

“I spoke with Mungula who was the DJ at the above business this evening. Mungula advised that Reformado was leaning against Mungula’s DJ equipment. Mungula asked Reformado to step away from the equipment. Reformado became confrontational with Mungula asking, ‘What’s your problem?’ and then telling him to ‘Fuck off.’ Reformado told Fiorito and Offender #3 that they were being kicked out. As they were being escorted from the business Officer #3 swung at Mungula two times missing Mungula both times. Mungula pushed Offender #3 away. Offender #3 fled in an unknown direction. Mungula wished to sign a complaint against offender #3.”

According to Gross he came upon a fight that had passed the point that physical violence was immediately about to occur. Reformado's combatant was fleeing the scene.

Gross took a situation where there was not an immediate risk of physical confrontation and contributed--presumably by accident--to the situation developing into a melee involving multiple people that resulted in injuries to Gross and the suspect.

What would have happened if Gross have verbally identified himself as a Forest Park police officer to the entire group before approaching any individual? Would things have gotten out of control?

My understanding is that individual Tasers record each use in memory. Gross' report looks like he's hiding this detail since it would have been readily available from his Taser.

What else seems unusual about Gross' account?