CHICAGO (Washington Insider Magazine) – Irene Chavez’s family has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Chicago and numerous police officers after she died in police custody last December in an apparent suicide.
The family’s lawyer, Andrew Stroth, referred to footage of Chavez published last week by Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability, in which she is seen pleading with detaining police and claiming that she is a combat veteran with PTSD.
This information is also recorded in a COPA-released police incident report.
According to the complaint, which was acquired by ABC News, CPD officials disregarded this knowledge and refused to adjust routine arrest procedures to meet Irene’s mental health requirements.
According to the lawsuit, not only did CPD officials decline to accommodate Irene’s condition during the detention, but they also purposefully inflamed the situation by insulting Irene as well as her friend including using vulgar, abusive language.
According to ABC News, the CPD does not discuss ongoing lawsuits and has sent any inquiries regarding the matter to COPA.
The records and videos relating to Chavez’s death were revealed as part of a civilian review agency’s probe into his murder.
COPA has revealed body camera video of Chavez arguing when being detained just hours prior to her death.
Irene Chavez died in the 3rd District Authorities Station on December 18, 2021, after a suicide attempt, according to police. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, the actual cause of death is pending autopsy results.
Chavez was arrested after being involved in a bar brawl at the Jeffery Pub Tavern, according to officials, and was aggressive throughout her custody.
According to the COPA report, cops could hear Chavez yelling in the holding cell. According to the complaint, after around 5 minutes of stillness, an officer on duty went back to check on her through the glass. According to the report, Chavez was discovered with her shirt tied around her neck, tied to a bench, and a weak pulse.
Officials performed CPR before transporting Chavez to the University of Chicago Hospital, according to the video published by COPA. Chavez was in serious condition at that time, according to COPA, and was confirmed dead at the hospital.
Irene’s sister, Iris Chavez, accused city police of negligence, claiming that police should have detected her sister’s mental health issues.
Chavez had been in the middle of a mental health crisis when she was detained, according to the complaint, and had reverted to drinking alcohol that day after staying sober for a month.
Irene Chavez is the second woman in less than 2 months to die in Chicago police custody.
