Man Says Alderman Beat Him Unconscious

CHICAGO (CN) - An alderman for the city of Harvey beat an auto shop worker unconscious in an argument over cars parked on the street in front of the shop, the mechanic says.

Christopher Wilson claims in Cook County Court that Alderman Keith Price came to Midnight Auto to complain about the cars, and demanded that Wilson "summon the owner."

Wilson said he told Price to do it himself. Price responded by punching him repeatedly in the head, until he fractured Wilson's jaw and knocked him out.

Price was responding to complaints from senior citizens who said the vehicles were illegally parked and were blocking their view of northbound traffic, according to the complaint.

Price had called the city about the parked cars but got no response, the complaints states.

According to a Harvey newspaper, the "Turlington Times," Price spent 120 days in jail for a 1999 incident of domestic battery and resisting a police officer, and was also convicted of battery in 2008.

In addition to being an alderman, Price is a Harvey Park District Commissioner and a member of the school board.

Wilson and his wife, Camilia, Booker sued in Federal Court in 2008. Judge William Hibbler ruled that Price was not acting within the scope of his position as alderman, and dismissed two counts. The remaining three counts were dismissed as state law claims.

Wilson and Booker refilled in Cook County Court. They seek more than $2 million in damages from the city and Price, alleging battery and negligence.

They are represented by Gary Ashman with Ashman and Stein.

Four Harvey cops were arrested in 2008 in an FBI sting that alleged more than a dozen Chicagoland cops protected drug dealers. Harvey may be best known, though, or not known, for its abandoned mall which moviemakers refurbished only to destroy for a chase scene in the movie, "The Blues Brothers."

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