Leroy Kennedy IV, a Black man whose violent arrest last August went viral, filed a lawsuit against the city of Chicago following the incident.
Kennedy, who was in Humboldt Park on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois was approached and assaulted by two officers as he walked to a local store in late summer of last year.
WARNING: video contains violence
Kennedy was approached from behind and slammed against a brick wall and then thrown to the ground while officers repeatedly smashed his head against the sidewalk.
The entire incident was captured on video via an officer's body camera.
Just watched the disgusting body cam video of Mr. Leroy Kennedy IV. Pigs confronted him because he had “a shocked l… https://t.co/Qhr0CNRhq0— Rocko’s Moderna Life (@Rocko’s Moderna Life) 1613666990.0
He was walking down the street & they slammed him to the ground & gave him a concussion because "he had a shocked l… https://t.co/O8cOkjVrFf— Marie (@Marie) 1613860717.0
This is not a joke. Chicago cops beat and arrested Leroy Kennedy IV - because - and bear with me here - he had a… https://t.co/vf02RYsV2p— Shabana Mir ☕️ (@Shabana Mir ☕️) 1614025549.0
We need justice for Leroy Kennedy, IV. Just because his eyes bulged a bit in the presence of police, does not justi… https://t.co/fbl6aEm7sN— Exodus de Alexandria (@Exodus de Alexandria) 1614013196.0
Another day another FAIL for @chicagosmayor and her ever so corrupt police department. Leroy Kennedy IV slammed,… https://t.co/0eKG2JHUI3— Truth Syrum (@Truth Syrum) 1613712375.0
Kennedy spent four days in jail following this arrest and a charge for aggravated battery against an officer and resisting arrest.
The charges were dropped as a police report filed by the officers stated they arrested Kennedy for "having a shocked look on his face" when he saw the police.
"The police can't even pretend he did anything. You have a police report with no description of a crime and no reason to approach him other than his bulging eyes," said Kennedy's lawyer, Christopher Smith, to ABC7 News.
@ABC7Chicago CPD being thugs again. He was walking and looked at them so they assaulted the man. Reform is needed t… https://t.co/RGhB9bh0pH— Dr (@Dr) 1613648146.0
@ABC7Chicago Bcus he looked shock at the site of them they assaulted him!!!— #1Aquarius (@#1Aquarius) 1613647848.0
@ABC7Chicago So @chicagosmayor spends $280 million COVID relief funds on Chicago Police for this?!— Quest For Apollo (@Quest For Apollo) 1613655794.0
@ABC7Chicago Chicago police are literal 🗑— cocopuffs4u (@cocopuffs4u) 1613667710.0
@ABC7Chicago Can’t defend this.....a “shocked look”??? WTH this is disgusting!— Angela Jackson (@Angela Jackson) 1613654674.0
Kennedy said the event left him "traumatized."
"I told him like, 'Sir, I'm not resisting. I just want to get my glasses...He slammed me again thinking I'm resisting."
After the assault, Kennedy needed to be taken to a local hospital for treatment. Camera footage from the car shows him bloodied and bruised as a result of the encounter.
@ABC7Chicago @NW_StayDet Well Lightfoot you said teacher’s unions were trying to take over the city. You sure about… https://t.co/kgm8epDymp— Haters R My Biggest Fans 💋💫🇺🇸🇲🇽 (@Haters R My Biggest Fans 💋💫🇺🇸🇲🇽) 1613775990.0
@ABC7Chicago He had a shocked look on his face..... https://t.co/Ox8zKb2LGl— Riko Chey (@Riko Chey) 1613670549.0
@ABC7Chicago Enough is enough. Get rid of qualified immunity NOW! Start jailing these thugs and allowing them to be… https://t.co/Gj1Loho0Bn— Yodie1963 (@Yodie1963) 1613842068.0
What was the reason behind this violent and VICIOUS arrest of Leroy Kennedy?! The bodycam video shows the kind of v… https://t.co/edtj53RnTO— Ben Crump (@Ben Crump) 1613710980.0
Kennedy's lawsuit seeks "compensatory damages, and because defendants acted maliciously, wantonly, or oppressively; punitive damages against the individual (officers) in their individual capacities."
The Chicago Police Department has refused to comment on the incident or the lawsuit.