Paralyzed man sues Chicago cops, says they hit him

A paralyzed man sued the City of Chicago and seven policemen Thursday, claiming they dragged him from a car and beat him unconscious when he was too slow to obey an order to get out.

Daniel Casares charged that the seven officers engaged in excessive use of force and battery. He asked for unspecified damages from the city.

The officers stopped a car in which Casares was riding on the city's southeast side Oct. 9, 2006, on the suspicion that the driver -- Casares' brother -- was using marijuana. They asked Daniel Casares to get out and when he didn't do so immediately they dragged him out, the lawsuit said.

Some or all of the officers allegedly continued to kick Casares while he was on the ground, according to the complaint.

Casares was convicted after a bench trial of battery and resisting arrest for charges that came from the stop. He received court supervision and is appealing his conviction.

A spokeswoman for the city law department, Jenny Hoyle, said she hadn't seen the complaint and therefore would not be able to comment.

"They are allegations and have to be proved in court," she said. "Once we get served with the complaint and review it we can respond."

Casares attorney Blake Horwitz said the officers approached the car with guns drawn and yelled at Casares, who was in the passenger seat, to get out. He said Casares had been a quadriplegic as a result of a car accident for four years before the incident.

The lawsuit was assigned to U.S. District Judge George Lindberg.