BELLEVILLE, Ill. (CN) - The Village of New Athens's failure to arrest a drunk, underage woman-beater led to the man's death, his father claims in St. Clair County Court.
Edgar Hock says New Athens police failed to arrest his son Justin, who was drunk and 20, for domestic violence. Police were called to Justin's residence, where he lived with Ellen Bailey, late on July 22, 2008 and removed him and took him to the police station.
Instead of officially arresting him, police let Justin go back home, where he continued to beat Bailey before taking her car, the father says. Justin died in a single-car accident in Bailey's car early on July 23, 2008.
Edgar Hock claims New Athens police were negligent by allowing his underage son to leave the police department while drunk; failing to arrest him; and failing to follow procedures for the arrest and release of an intoxicated minor.
Bailey is also a plaintiff in the suit. She claims police violated the Illinois Domestic Violence Act by failing to offer services to her; failing to advise her to seek medical attention and preserve evidence of the assault; failing to protect her from Justin Hock by failing to arrest him; and failing to arrange for her to be moved to a safe place. Bailey says the police also falsified police reports to clear itself of wrongdoing.
They seek unspecified damages and are represented by D. Jeffrey Ezra of Collinsville.
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