Michael Hart, a police officer from Skokie Illinois, was charged with aggravated battery and official misconduct for shoving 47-year-old Cassandra Feuerstein, who had been charged with a DUI in a police station lock-up, news reports said. The deliberate shove caused serious injuries to Feuerstein. The assault was captured on surveillance camera.
Judge Israel Sesierto ordered Hart held on a $750,000 bond, state attorney's office spokesman Lisa Gordon said last Wednesday.
Hart "was assisting with fingerprinting... Feuerstein on March 10, after she was arrested that morning, news reports said.
During the booking process, "Hart 'became irate' with Feuerstein when she repeatedly refused to look at a specific location on a camera lens for him to take a booking photo... Hart grabbed her 'forcibly' and pulled her towards an open cell, where she tried to use both hands to grab the sides of the doorway, regain her balance and ask for another photo," prosecutors said.
Hart then put both of his hands on her back and pushed her "forcefully" into the cell, [according to prosecutors]. She was propelled across the cell, and her head slammed face-first into an unpadded concrete bench," WLSAM reported.
Feuerstein suffered "a fractured right orbital bone, loosened teeth and deep cut on her cheek. She required reconstructive surgery after the incident, including placement of a titanium plate in her cheek. Prosecutors say she still suffers vision and dental problems," WLSAM.com also reported.
Feuerstein pleaded guilty to the DUI, and was sentenced to one year of supervision with a fine close to $1,600, court records showed. A resisting arrest charge and three traffic citations were later dropped.
After the assault, Feuerstein filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on October 10, saying Officer Hart used excessive force.
"He whips her through the door and into the cell. There was no threat to any of the police officers. It's clear on the video that the [behavior] was indefensible," ," sad Torreya Hamilton, Feuerstein's lawyer.
"It is a sad and difficult day in law enforcement when an incident such as this occurs and criminal charges are warranted," Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez said in the statement.
"We recognize that police officers have difficult jobs and work under challenging circumstances, but every law enforcement officer holds his or her powers through the public trust and this senseless act constitutes a violation of that trust," he added.
Hart's next court appearance has been set for November 20, news reports said.
