Gurnee woman files excessive force lawsuit against three police officers

Three police officers from Round Lake Park and Round Lake are accused of using excessive force by dragging a woman from a squad car, according to a federal lawsuit.

Attorneys for Quendalyne Alexander, 33, of Gurnee state in the complaint she was injured by police March 7, 2015. The lawsuit was filed Feb. 19 in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

Lake County circuit court records show Alexander was charged with one count of felony battery/making physical contact, one count of aggravated battery to a peace officer, one count of domestic battery/bodily harm and two counts of misdemeanor domestic battery/making physical contact. She entered a negotiated guilty plea in July 2015.

While the aggravated battery to a cop and the misdemeanor domestic battery/making physical contact counts were dropped, records show she pleaded guilty to felony battery/making physical contact and domestic battery/bodily harm. Her sentence included probation until 2017 and public service hours, as well as restrictions such as not being allowed to visit a bar or anywhere else alcohol is sold.

Alexander's lawyers who filed the suit, Mark Smolens and Richard Mottweiler, did not return messages for comment.

Round Lake Police Chief Michael Gillette also did not respond to a message seeking comment. Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko said he could not immediately comment on the suit.

"We have not yet been served with the complaint," Filenko said, "and will not have a comment until we are served with a copy of the complaint and can investigate the claims with the village's attorney."

Alexander was at her sister's Round Lake Park home when they got into a dispute about 1:30 a.m. March 7, 2015, court documents say. The lawsuit claims Alexander got into "a physical altercation" with her sister, who fled before police arrived.

Round Lake Park police Cmdr. Anthony Colon and officer Matthew Lyons were dispatched to the house, according to the suit. Colon directed Alexander to sit in the rear of a squad car, despite not being handcuffed or advised she was under arrest, according to the suit.

Lyons soon entered the vehicle and told Alexander she would be taken to the Round Lake Park police station, the lawsuit says. When Alexander asked why she was going to the police station and used her wireless telephone to call her sister, Lyons became "enraged," court documents state.

Lyons pulled into a Round Lake Park restaurant parking lot and called for additional units, the suit contends. Colon and Round Lake police officer Brandon Gullifor responded, and all three officers pulled her from the squad car, according to the lawsuit.

Alexander suffered a fractured right arm and other unspecified injuries, the suit says.

Lyons, Colon and Gullifor are accused of using excessive force and violating Alexander's constitutional rights. Unspecified compensatory and punitive damages are being sought from the officers individually and the villages of Round Lake Park and Round Lake. None of the officers could be reached for comment.

Lyons received Round Lake Park's Medal of Life at a village board meeting in March 2015. Colon received an Exceptional Duty medal in March 2014.

•Daily Herald staff writer Lee Filas contributed to this report.