Judge bounces lawsuit against Rolling Meadows cops

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the Rolling Meadows police department for its June barricading of all but one entrance to the 12 Oaks of Woodfield apartment complex.

In a terse, short order Tuesday on the court docket that indicated a fuller ruling is yet to come, U.S. District Judge Blanche Manning said the suit was dismissed because the federal court does not have jurisdiction to hear it.

Rolling Meadows lawyers argued that the charges in the lawsuit did not rise to the level of violations of the U.S. Constitution and so should be dismissed. Manning apparently agreed.

There are still charges remaining that can be brought in state court, but lawyers for the apartment complex could not be reached late Wednesday to see if they will take the case to state court or appeal Manning's decision.

Police said the blockades were done in response to requests from residents for a higher police presence, but some residents found the tactic heavy-handed, particularly because cars entering and exiting the complex were asked to stop by police who said they were merely distributing safety flyers.

Police took down the barriers almost immediately after the complex' owner filed suit.