Former Chicago Top Cop Eddie Johnson Faces Sexual Assault Lawsuit - Chicago, IL Patch

CHICAGO — Former police Superintendent Eddie Johnson sexually assaulted and harassed a female officer under his direct supervision, according to a lawsuit filed by his former driver.

The lawsuit alleges that for more than three years, Johnson "engaged in shockingly violent, abusive, and harassing conduct" aimed at Cynthia Donald, who was a member of the former top cop's security details.

The lawsuit alleges that Johnson forcibly touched and kissed Donald, forced her to engage in oral and vaginal sex, and sent her nude pictures of himself.

Johnson also called her "sexually derogatory names in sexually demeaning contexts" in the presence of other city employees, and "carried out many unwanted and unwelcome sexual acts" on Donald in his office at police headquarters, the lawsuit states.

"Superintendent Johnson used his position of power and authority over [Donald] to pressure her into engaging in these sexual acts by conditioning her employment and advancements within CPD upon her submission to unwanted and unwelcomed sexual activity, promising her promotions, and berating her whenever she summoned the courage to resist his advances," according to the lawsuit, filed against Johnson and the city of Chicago in Cook County court.

Johnson's attorney did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment on the allegations in the lawsuit.

Donald was out drinking with Johnson at a downtown bar on the night of Oct. 16, 2019, hours before officers found him slumped behind the wheel of his police vehicle.

Inspector General Joe Ferguson's investigation determined Johnson drove a city vehicle under the influence of alcohol, committed various traffic violations and lied — to the public and Mayor Lori Lightfoot — about driving while intoxicated and launching an investigation into the Oct. 17 traffic stop that ultimately got him fired, according to a summary of the investigative report.

The lawsuit alleges that in the days after city officials learned Johnson had been drinking the night he was discovered unconscious behind the wheel of his police vehicle, no one interviewed her about the incident.

"Instead, Mayor Lightfoot exacerbated the hostile work environment by ordering Superintendent Johnson to 'dump' [Donald] by having her relocated away from CPD Headquarters," the lawsuit claims.

A Chicago law department spokesperson on Thursday issued a statement about the lawsuit.

"We are aware of the lawsuit filed by Cynthia Donald against Mr. Johnson and the City. Mr. Johnson was terminated from his role as superintendent in connection with his conduct during the events of October 16-17, 2019. We cannot comment on the specific allegations, which, if true, would be inexcusable," the spokesperson said in the statement.

"Mayor Lightfoot emphatically denies, and common sense dictates, that Eddie Johnson ever told the Mayor about allegations of abuse or harassment of Cynthia Donald by Eddie Johnson. Ms. Donald's lawyers never claimed otherwise."

Three Years Of Abuse Claimed

In March 2016, then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel circumvented the process for selecting a new police superintendent to pick Eddie Johnson, who didn't apply for the top cop job.

Emanuel said Johnson, then chief of patrol, would restore "trust" and "pride" to the department, and had the "command, character and capability to lead" after officer Jason Van Dyke shot Laquan McDonald with every bullet in his gun — 16 shots — until the Black teenager was dead.

Donald alleges in the lawsuit that Johnson first noticed her in the summer of 2015, describing her physical appearance and saying in a "sexually suggestive and demanding manner, 'How did we miss this one?'" according to the lawsuit.

In May 2016, Johnson then "masterminded a plan" to assign Donald to his security unit to "be close to her, keep her under his control, dictate her work hours and schedule, ply her with alcohol and perpetrate his sexual harassment and abuse," the lawsuit states.

About six months later, Donald was assigned to serve as Johnson's personal driver. That's when, according to the lawsuit, Johnson used his authority as her supervisor to initiate years of sexual harassment "creating an ongoing pattern of emotional, physical and sexual abuse."

Donald alleges in court papers that Johnson assaulted her for the first time in the summer of 2016 in a room adjacent to his private office.

"Johnson entered the room, forced [Donald] onto a nearby couch, pulled [her] pants down without her consent, and forcibly performed unwanted oral sex on her." The former top cop then ejaculated on Donald's body and told her, "now you know you belong to me," the lawsuit states.

The then-top cop called Donald "his girl," frequently touched and kissed her, used alcohol to ply her into performing unwanted sex acts, asked what color underwear she had on at work, and sent her unwanted, harassing text messages and nude pictures, including photos of his "naked penis," the lawsuit states.

Johnson, on multiple occasions between 2016 and 2019, "forcibly pried" Donald's legs open and performed unwanted oral sex on her. Several times, the lawsuit states, Johnson ordered her into his office, locked the door and refused to let her leave until she performed sexual acts on him.

After some of those unwanted sexual encounters, Johnson would say to Donald, "The city owes you another check for making my workday easier" and "you get me through this job," the lawsuits claims.

Donald also claims in court papers that Johnson required her to travel with him on work-related overnight trips and ordered her to come into his hotel room to "engage in sexual activity."

The lawsuit states that Donald asked Johnson to stop asking about her underwear, kissing her and sexually harassing and assaulting her on multiple occasions between 2016 and 2019.

Donald alleges that Johnson exerted the power of his office to pressure her for sex, and made it clear he could against and demote any employee at any time for any reason.

In 2019, Donald claims in court papers that Johnson told her she needed to "stay on his good side" if she wanted a merit promotion to the rank of sergeant, which he said he could make happen. The lawsuit claims Johnson repeatedly told Donald he had a growing "list of favors" — meaning sex acts — she would owe him with each move he made to clear the way for that promotion, and demanded she would have "pay up soon."

Donald's lawsuit alleges that the former top cop often talked about other female officers who wanted to "give him some" in exchange for promotions or "comfortable assignments." And when Johnson thought another male officer had showed interest in Donald, the then-superintendent said, "don't have me put him somewhere on [midnight shifts]," which she considered a threat, the lawsuit states.

Following Orders, Cover-Up Allegations

Donald told the city inspector general that on Oct. 16, 2019 — the evening before officers found Johnson asleep behind the wheel of his police vehicle — she had been "ordered" to accompany the top cop "as he had done many times before" as her boss, the lawsuit states.

Donald and Johnson, according to published reports, were caught on video drinking and kissing at a downtown restaurant that night. Johnson dropped off Donald at police headquarters. She drove herself home, according to the lawsuit. Later, officers found Johnson asleep in his car and allowed the superintendent to leave the scene without giving him a field sobriety test.

Earlier this week, five police officers were informed they would be suspended for their actions related to the traffic stop.

Initially, Johnson blamed his late-night nap behind the wheel on a medication mix-up. He claimed to order a full investigation of the traffic stop, and told the mayor he had drinks with friends that night and pulled over because he wasn't feeling well. Neither of those things was true, according to the inspector general's investigation.

MORE ON PATCH: Fired Top Cop Drove Drunk, Lied About Ordering Probe: New Report

In the aftermath of Johnson's boozy drive home, Donald alleges in court papers that Johnson didn't follow the mayor's orders to demote her. Johnson called Lightfoot a "bitch" and "tiny negro" who was "clowning" by trying to steal his "music," Johnson's nickname for Donald, according to the lawsuit.

Johnson transferred Donald to the records division three floors below his office in police headquarters "so he could continue to sexually harass and assault her," the lawsuit alleges.

Donald alleges in court papers that on one occasion following her transfer, Johnson called her into his office with her young son. During that visit Johnson allegedly attempted to fondle her buttocks while the boy looked the other way, the lawsuit states.

As details about the events surrounding Johnson's traffic stop became public, Donald said, the then-top cop confessed to her that he "destroyed evidence" on his cell phone, according to the lawsuit.

Weeks later, in November, Johnson announced plans to retire. At a news conference attended by Johnson's wife, Chicago police Lt. Nakia Fenner and children, Mayor Lightfoot asked reporters not to ask questions about the ongoing investigation into the top cop's boozy drive home, which he insisted had nothing to do with his decision to step down as superintendent.

MORE ON PATCH: Please Pretend Retiring Chicago Top Cop Isn't Under Investigation

On Dec. 2, 2019, Lightfoot fired Johnson, saying the superintendent lied to her about his "intolerable" actions leading to his traffic stop.

When the inspector general's office ordered Donald to turn over her cell phone to investigators, she left it on her desk, the lawsuit states. The inspector general's office has since said the data card on her cell phone was damaged or destroyed.

In court papers, Donald suggests that Johnson may have been involved in damaging the phone to "destroy the evidence of his sexual assaults and sexual harassment" against her.

Donald said in court papers that she has been diagnosed with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, and suffers regular nightmares about Johnson, along with from hair loss, weight gain and embarrassment as a result of the former top cop's conduct.

In the five-count lawsuit against Johnson and the city, Donald claims she was a victim of sexual discrimination, harassment and a hostile work environment based on her sex, and accuses Johnson of destroying evidence.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

U.S. - Latest - Google News
October 16, 2020 at 01:55AM
https://ift.tt/2H6vZyb

Former Chicago Top Cop Eddie Johnson Faces Sexual Assault Lawsuit - Chicago, IL Patch
U.S. - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/2ShjtvN
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update

Bagikan Berita Ini