Six months after he was locked up in the Will County jail on burglary and theft charges, William Jenkins said guards bashed his head against a shower stall wall before pushing and punching him during a strip search.
Six months after that alleged attack, the 29-year-old Harvey man said members of the jail's black-clad Emergency Response Team locked went into his cell and beat him so badly he was sent to the medical wing for two weeks.
Jenkins sued six different deputies—three in connection with each alleged attack—shortly after the respective incidents. And now he fears he will be killed for blowing the whistle, said his lawyer.
"That's exactly what he is alleging," said Joliet attorney John Schrock, adding that Jenkins is in "serious fear of his life."
The Frankfort police arrested Jenkins in October 2011 after he and Dolton man Ira Cunningham, 33, were allegedly caught breaking into a house on Linden Drive. Cunningham has since been convicted and is pulling a 16-year prison sentence.
Jenkins remains in jail as he case crawls through court. And Schrock says that after two beatings—the second in retaliation for taking legal action—his client is gravely afraid he will die before making it to trial.
Deputy Chief Ken Kaupas, the spokesman for the Will County Sheriff's Department, says he has not seen either lawsuit and cannot comment on pending litigation.
The first lawsuit, filed in June, says Jenkins and other inmates were herded into a shower for a strip searchg in April. Jenkins and a guard then "engaged in verbal dialogue regarding the process," and two Emergency Response Team members descended on Jenkins, knocking his head off a wall and then beating him.
The second lawsuit, filed late last month, claims members of the Emergency Response Team beat Jenkins while he was locked down in his cell. The lawsuit also says Jenkins has filed grievances with jail administration about the alleged attacks and that the grievances have been denied.
Schrock said abuse of inmates is rampant at the county jail.
"If an inmate mouths off to someone, it does not give them the right to hit them," Schrock said.
"I think it's a problem at the Will County Adult Detention Center, particularly with the ERTs," he said. "If you ask the inmates, when you see the ERTs come out, you know somebody's going to get tuned up. It's a subliminal message they're sending."
Also, why isn't it being said what Jenkins did to the officers.....I'm sure he was being a good boy, minding his own business....
And then you say: "Bring on the beatings jail guards!!!" Okay, so you yourself advocate for rampant beatings. Guess what, you don't have to advocate for them, they already happen. And when you beat a criminal in jail, guess what happens? He gets to leave sooner. Is that what you want? Criminals getting out of jail sooner? If so, that's what you've gotten. Good job on supporting the release of dangerous criminals back into society.
Isn't Jennkins that allegedly got beat the guy that stole a half BILLION dollars worth of heroin from the police and made the sheriff's daughter out to be the idiot that hse is for handing it all over to a complete stranger that called in and asked her to move it? THAT'D BE A MOTIVE! but they do treat random people like this as well.
Just wait until you hear stories that will be coming out of M-POD. If you or someone you know were victims, PLEASE reach me and tell my partner and me your story.
Did Marlis O'Leary that got fired for blowing the whistle and then got stalked by them literally vanish or did she just decide to move or something? Is there any documentation of her being a no show for court or anything that suggests that she vanished?
There will be much more coming out in time. Trust me. I won't it is when I get all the proof because it would be beyond rude to bring new news to a reporter's website. I guarantee that the stories will blow your mind though. @Rusty, please post details! Maybe leave out the names of the inmates to protect their privacy, but mention the other details when you have a moment. Please.