Cicero official sues Naperville over arrest

Cicero's town collector has sued the city of Naperville and three of its police officers, alleging the police used excessive force when she was arrested nearly two years ago.

The attorney for Frances Reitz, the elected Cicero town collector since 2004 and a member of the Morton College board of trustees, claims in an eight-count federal lawsuit filed this week that officers used "objectively unreasonable" force when they removed Reitz from her fiance's Naperville house on July 31, 2013.

The suit alleges Reitz was placed under arrest even though there was "no reasonable suspicion, probable cause, or other legal basis" for it.

Reitz was outside the house on the 2500 block of Brockton Circle as officers were investigating reports of her fiance's brother being in distress inside. After the man was removed by police, an officer allowed Reitz to go inside, according to the suit.

But when she entered the house, another officer "violently threw her out of house and onto ground," where she was detained, the suit states.

Reitz was charged with obstruction of a peace officer and battery of a peace officer but was acquitted of those charges nearly a year later.

The suit names the city, Sgt. Robert Lee and officers Martin Creighton and Vincent Clark as defendants.

In a statement, Naperville spokeswoman Linda LaCloche said the city "takes all lawsuits very seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation."

"The city of Naperville's Police Department is nationally accredited and a world-class organization," LaCloche said.

The suit states Reitz suffered physical injuries and emotional distress. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, costs and attorney's fees and is demanding a jury trial.