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| Cassandra Feuerstein |
Skokie, IL—The Cook County
State’s Attorney announced that felony charges were brought in a criminal complaint against 19-year
veteran Skokie police officer Michael Hart, 43.
Last March, another officer
of the Skokie Police Department arrested Cassandra Feuerstein, 47 for DUI. She was brought into the station where Feuerstein was subjected
to the routine booking process that includes fingerprinting and photographing.
Officer Hart was assisting in that effort but
apparently the woman became uncooperative and resisted the process.
At some point Feuerstein refused to be
photographed and as she was being returned to a holding cell she fought that
effort with both hands to prevent that from happening.
There is video with a view
inside the cell but none to show what happened outside the cell door.
Officer Hart is seen giving Feuerstein
a hearty shove into the cell when the unthinkable happened. The woman went face first into the sharp edge of a concrete bench suffering some regrettably nasty injuries.
Feuerstein has had to since undergo
reconstructive facial surgery. She’s
also suffered vision and dental problems as a result of this event.
What this excessive
force? Did Feuerstein bring this upon
herself by physically resisting Hart’s command and being placed in the cell? Did
officer Hart have malicious intent?
I can’t help but pity Feuerstein in that her resistance did not justify the injuries. On the other hand I’m convinced that officer
Hart never intended to inflict any injury whatsoever. He was simply trying to get her back into the
cell.
I fault the design of the
cell itself having a bench with sharp concrete edges. The facility architect and designers
apparently did not take into account the fact that violence often takes place
in such holding cells because drunks and mentally deranged people are the most
likely to inhabit them.
The risk is equal to police
officers when they must restrain or remove prisoners that resist them.
As for Feuerstein she was
apparently drunk since she entered a plea agreement and paid a fine for the
DUI.
The shove itself doesn’t
bother me because I’ve shoved my share of angry or drunken arrestees. I’ve never seen such an outcome result like that, ever.
I consider this an accident,
nothing more. Was this a crime? I just don’t see that being the case.
Hart knew full well the cameras were watching and he obviously knew his every move was recorded. That makes a pretty solid case that he'd not intentionally injure the woman.
Hart knew full well the cameras were watching and he obviously knew his every move was recorded. That makes a pretty solid case that he'd not intentionally injure the woman.
This is a matter that belongs
in the civil courts. I’m horrified that
a man’s career, retirement pension and liberty is jeopardized over this incident.
Officer hart is in need of a
good lawyer and defense investigator.
This case needs to be tried in court rather than by the gossip of police
haters.
Hart has been charged with
Aggravated Battery and Official Misconduct.
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Israel Desierto has ordered that Hart
held on a $75,000 bond. It’s unknown if
Hart has yet retained a defense attorney.
I don’t know anything about Feuerstein’s
background but I can’t help but feel the horror of the outcome of the officer’s
shove.
I’m not however convinced that
officer Hart could have ever envisioned the injuries resulting from that
shove.
Hart is expected to appear in court on November 20, 2013 to face these charges.
Hart is expected to appear in court on November 20, 2013 to face these charges.
