Man whose case was dismissed after 'Perry Mason' moment in court sues 5 police officers over arrest
A suburban Chicago man has filed a federal civil rights suit against five police officers, following a “Perry Mason” moment in court last month that resulted in the dismissal of a drug case against him.
Joseph Sperling says in his suit that Chicago police asked Glenview officers at the scene of his arrest last June to turn off their squad car dashcams. At least one Glenview officer didn’t, resulting in video footage that persuaded a Cook County Circuit Court judge to grant a motion to suppress seized evidence, because police testimony contradicted what the camera showed, reports the Chicago Tribune.
“All too often the police know they’re lying, the state’s attorneys know they’re lying and the judges know they’re lying, and nobody does anything about it,” his attorney, Jon Loevy, told the newspaper. “This case presents an exception because here we have videotaped proof … that the police were lying.”
See also:
ABAJournal.com: “Rare ‘Perry Mason’ moment in court wins dismissal for defendant, desk duty for 5 police officers”
