Lake County jail inmate claims guards hurt him

The Lake County sheriff's office is among the targets of a federal lawsuit filed by a Lake County jail inmate who claims he was shot with a stun gun, pepper-sprayed and injured by guards.

According to the civil rights lawsuit filed March 21, Daniel Acevedo, 29, Round Lake Beach, claimed he was injured by jail guards three times since October. Three jail officers, Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran and Lake County also are named in the lawsuit.

Undersheriff Ray Rose said he could not comment specifically on the allegations, saying, "The lawsuit is currently under review and it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time."

Attorney Jonathon R. Ksiazek said Acevedo was handcuffed in a jail hallway when he was thrown multiple times face first into a wall by a guard Oct. 15. Acevedo's broken nose and concussion were treated by jail staffers after the attacks, Ksiazek said.

Ksiazek said Acevedo was noncombative and complying with guards during a Nov. 27 lockdown when he was shot with a stun gun by another jail guard. Acevedo was in his cell facing the wall when a jail guard emptied an entire can of pepper spray at him Dec. 7, Ksiazek said.

According to the court documents, there was no legal cause for jail guards to use force in each instance.

"We filed a (freedom of information act request) for the video but were denied access to the tape," Ksiazek said, adding he is doing more research into the attacks.

No demand for monetary compensation is listed in the lawsuit. Ksiazek said compensation will be decided in federal court.

According to Assistant State's Attorney Jim Newman, Acevedo is in the jail on multiple charges, including possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a controlled substance, obstructing justice and domestic battery.

Court documents show Acevedo has a long history of criminal charges that include drug possession, sex crimes and aggravated battery.

Rose said Acevedo has been in and out of isolation since being incarcerated in 2014. He has spent the last six months in isolation due to incidents at the jail.

Attorney Greg Nikitas, who is handling Acevedo's criminal cases, did not comment.

Acevedo was due to appear in Lake County court Thursday, but that hearing was continued, Newman said.

His lawsuit against the sheriff's office is due back in federal court May 4.