Harvey police officer Andre Sneed says he called 911 to report his off-duty police chief was driving erratically. Dolton officers arrested Harvey chief Denard Eaves on suspicion of driving drunk, but he was released without charges, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court. Instead, Sneed was threatened and briefly detained before he fled in fear, his lawsuit said.
The lawsuit, which seeks more than $75,000, said Sneed was subjected to a false arrest, and authorities failed to investigate.
The lawsuit said Sneed videotaped Eaves drinking about a dozen beers at a Dolton bowling alley on April 23, 2010, and followed his car when he left that night.
Sneed said he called 911, and another Harvey officer flagged down a sheriff's officer, who stopped Eaves, then let him go.
Sneed said he called 911 again, and two Dolton officers arrested Eaves after he refused a Breathalyzer test. But then-Dolton Police Chief Robert Fox refused to charge Eaves and was leading him to the parking lot when they spotted Sneed, the lawsuit said.
Fox ordered Sneed to leave, and Eaves threatened him, the lawsuit said. When Sneed said he was there to file a complaint, Fox escorted him into the station and was looking for handcuffs when Sneed fled, it said.
Sneed said he later received a note at his home saying, "Police Don't Snitch on Police You Dead Bitch."
Patrick J. Walsh, attorney for Sneed, said the evidence includes Sneed's video of Eaves and Walsh's interviews with the two Dolton officers who said they arrested Eaves.
The defendants in the lawsuit, which was filed Sunday, include Fox, Eaves, former Dolton Inspector General Robert Shaw and Marcus Patterson, commander of the Harvey Police Department's internal affairs unit.
Fox, who now works for the Cook County medical examiner, did not return a call for comment. A Harvey spokeswoman said attorneys for the village will review the lawsuit. Sneed has been on medical leave from the Harvey Police Department for more than a year.
