Alton Corey, 62, was recovering at home from a heart procedure when Champaign police officers Dillon Holloway and William Killin knocked on his door at around 10:45 p.m. to investigate a report about a domestic dispute on Oct. 17, 2017.
Corey answered the door, but told the officers they could not come in.
That’s when officer Killin shoved Corey back into his apartment, according to his lawsuit.
Both officers then entered then slammed Corey face-first into a door, causing him to lose consciousness and injuring his face and shoulder.
After that, Killin and Holloway attempted a cover up their use of excessive force by arresting Corey for battery of a police officer, according to News-Gazette.
When the case went to court, prosecutors took the liberty of dismissing the charge after viewing body camera footage.
Corey’s attorney, Shneur Nathan, has filed several lawsuits against the Champaign Police Department and says his law firm Shneur Nathan of Nathan & Kamionski LLP has the “specialty and expertise” needed for excessive-force lawsuits.
“The lawsuit is not actively seeking what’s called injunctive relief, which could be a type of administrative change. That’s something the City of Champaign can do on its own,” Nathan told the News-Gazette.
“The problem is not just that certain officers are using unreasonable force. The further problem is this policy allowing officers to conceal their unjustified use of force with resisting, obstructing or battery charges.”
Officers Holloway and Killin are still employed by the department, but Champaign police spokeswoman LaEisha Meaderds decline to comment any further about the case.
The lawsuit, filed May 23, alleges false arrest, malicious prosecution, intentional infliction of emotional distress in addition to excessive use of force.
So far, no charges have been filed against officers Killin or Hollow, but Champaign assistant city attorney Jennifer Bannon said she hadn’t yet seen the lawsuit.