$93,000 Settlement In Lawsuit Against Joliet Mayor O'Dekirk

JOLIET, IL — The two federal lawsuits filed in 2020 against Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk and members of the Joliet Police Department in connection with the controversial arrests of Victor Williams and Jamal Smith has resulted in out of court settlements of $93,000, Joliet Patch has learned.

A federal judge was notified of the settlements in early January. On Tuesday, the city of Joliet released the settlement documents to Joliet Patch as part of a Freedom of Information Act request.

The incident involving O'Dekirk's confrontation with Smith and Williams happened following the May 31, 2020, Black Lives Matter demonstration near the White Castle restaurant on Larkin Avenue and Jefferson Street.

"These guys came to our city and participated in a riot, and now they want to complain about me and the police," O'Dekirk told Joliet Patch during an interview in October 2020.

Jamal Smith, now 29 of Crest Hill, and Victor Williams, now 24, of Lockport, had separate federal lawsuits accusing O'Dekirk and Joliet police of false arrest/unlawful detention, failure to intervene, malicious prosecution, conspiracy and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Williams and Smith had attended the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Joliet on the night of May 31, 2020.

According to the lawyers for Williams, "Defendant Mayor O'Dekirk grabbed plaintiff in and around the neck area and about the body and forcefully drove him backwards and subsequently threw him to the ground.

"Defendant O'Dekirk used inappropriate, unwarranted and unjustifiable force against plaintiff," the lawsuit argues. "Defendant officers assaulted, battered and restrained plaintiff without lawful cause or justification. Following the beating, the defendant officers falsely accused plaintiff of engaging in conduct which justified their actions."

Williams and Smith were arrested by Joliet police at 12:36 a.m. on June 1, 2020, at 1601 W. Jefferson St. on charges of aggravated assault and mob action.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow later dismissed the criminal charges against Williams and Smith and chose not to prosecute them.

Related Joliet Patch coverage: Mayor O'Dekirk, Joliet Police Sued For Actions On Night Of Riots

Mayor O'Dekirk Scuffle: Charges Dropped Against 2 Men