Martinez v. City of Chicago

Federal 7th Circuit Court
Civil Court
Section 1983 Action
Citation
Case Number: 
No. 17-1888
Decision Date: 
August 17, 2018
Federal District: 
N.D. Ill., E. Div.
Holding: 
Affirmed

 

Record contained sufficient evidence to support jury’s verdict in favor of defendants-police officials in section 1983 action alleging that defendants had violated plaintiff’s 4th Amendment rights during search of his apartment during hot pursuit of another individual whom defendants believed had entered into plaintiff’s home. Defendants’ warrantless entry into plaintiff’s home did not violate 4th Amendment, since: (1) said entry was accompanied by exigent circumstances where defendants received report that actual culprit had discarded gun while being chased by police shortly before entry into building containing plaintiff’s apartment; and (2) reasonable person in position of defendants would not have known that plaintiff’s apartment was separate from apartment that culprit had actually entered. Also, defendants had probable cause to conduct investigatory stop of plaintiff, where plaintiff had same last name and hair style as actual culprit, and where plaintiff acted aggressively toward defendants when they entered plaintiff’s home. Also, defendants had probable cause to arrest plaintiff on charges of resisting arrest and obstruction of justice, where plaintiff had failed to comply with directives of defendants and had physically struggled with one defendant before being placed under arrest.