The saga of Rachelle Jackson, thrown in jail after helping a cop involved in a car accident, has come to a close with a $7.9 million judgment against the Chicago Police Department for false arrest, malicious prosecution, coercive questioning and intentional infliction of emotional distress. (Fox Business, June 13)
On Nov. 19, 2002, Jackson witnessed a driver run a stop sign and collide with a CPD squad car. Risking her own life, Jackson pulled a dazed and injured officer, Kelly Brogan, from the burning car and helped her to safety.
Police approached Jackson and informed her that Brogan’s partner, also in the car and unconscious, had her gun stolen from her during the confusion following the accident. Jackson was asked to answer some questions at the police station, which she did willingly, thinking the officers needed routine information on the accident.
Her life-saving intervention forgotten, Jackson was accused of stealing the gun and subjected to two days of interrogation and threats of violence. She was given little food and water, and was only released after being forced to sign a statement of guilt prepared by the police. While waiting to fight for her innocence in court, Jackson was rearrested and languished for 10 months in Cook County Jail.
During the trial, prosecutors portrayed Jackson’s efforts to rescue the cop as acts of violence, characterizing her attempt to brace Officer Brogan’s neck and head as a “full Nelson” wrestling hold. Brogan’s obviously false testimony included a statement that Jackson tried to steal her gun and badge—a claim only made days after the accident and countered by several eyewitnesses who corroborated Jackson’s heroic efforts to help the officer.
The court threw out all charges related to the baseless accusation that Jackson robbed, assaulted and disarmed a police officer. The civil case that has now awarded Jackson $7.9 million brings her much needed closure.
The Chicago cops singled out a Black, working-class woman and let her spend almost a year of her life in jail for an act she did not commit. Though Jackson won her case, she is the exception to the rule. For each person of color that prevails against the racist police and courts, there are several more who never receive any justice.
