Couple sues McHenry Co. sheriff, deputies claiming false arrest, beating
A couple at the center of a state police probe into the actions of McHenry County Sheriff's deputies has filed a federal lawsuit against Sheriff Keith Nygren and seven of his officers.
Jerome and Carla Pavlin claim the deputies falsely arrested them March 14, 2008, used excessive force, illegally searched their home then conspired to cover up their actions.
Filed this month in U.S. District Court in Rockford, the litigation seeks undisclosed compensatory and punitive damages for the Nunda Township couple.
The suit comes as Illinois State Police, at Nygren's request, are investigating whether deputies acted appropriately the night they arrested the Pavlins at their home.
Nygren urged everyone to withhold judgment until that probe is complete.
"I don't pretend to know everything, which is why I called in the Illinois State Police," he said. "The truth will eventually come out and justice will be done. We'll wait for that to happen."
The Pavlins' allegations stem from a confrontation that began when deputies arrived at their home, in the 5200 block of Rita Avenue near Crystal Lake, with an arrest warrant for their adult son. According to reports, their son, Carl Pavlin, answered the door for deputies, then slammed it on them when he learned they were there to arrest him on a domestic battery charge.
The deputies then entered the residence - illegally, according to the lawsuit - where they were confronted by Jerome, 81, and Carla, 66.
Sheriff's reports and court documents allege Jerome Pavlin then spit in the eye of Deputy Kyle Mandernack. When Mandernack attempted to place him under arrest, police said, Carla Pavlin jumped on his back.
Both Pavlins were arrested on charges of aggravated battery to a police officer and resisting arrest. However, McHenry County State's Attorney Louis Bianchi dismissed those charges last week, citing "multiple legal and evidentiary problems with the case."
Bianchi's decision prompted Nygren to ask for state police to investigate his deputies' actions.
According to the lawsuit, three of the deputies - Mandernack, Ryan Lambert and Trevor Vogel - beat Jerome Pavlin. When Carla Pavlin tried to intervene, the suit claims, Mandernack shoved her against a granite countertop, causing her to be "severely injured."
Earlier reports indicated Carla Pavlin was hospitalized for several days while seeking treatment for a pre-existing back injury that was aggravated during the altercation.
Those deputies, along with four others in the sheriff's department, then "made out false and incomplete official reports and gave a false and incomplete version of the event to other police officers investigating the incident in order to cover up their misconduct," the suit alleges.