FBI Seizes Data From Joliet Police Administration

JOLIET, IL - Joliet Police Officer Cassie Socha's recent federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Joliet, Police Sgt. Ed Grizzle and John Does 1-20 has prompted the FBI to launch an investigation into the matter. Socha's lawsuit alleges that on May 18, Sgt. Grizzle drew up a false criminal search warrant against her and presented it to Will County Judge Sarah Jones so he could seize her iPhone.

Patch has learned that FBI agents subsequently showed up at the downtown station on Aug. 24 to gain control and obtain access to computers, electronics equipment, cellphones and other technology in the Joliet Police Department's investigations area. A person with knowledge of the case told Patch that city officials and some members of the police department had sought the FBI's intervention on the case.

The purpose of the probe would likely be to determine whether Socha's allegations can be corroborated.

Socha's Aug. 21 federal lawsuit accuses Sgt. Grizzle of unlawfully obtaining her phone and then seizing some of her private nude videos showing her "engaging in sex acts with (Officer Nick) Crowley, who is also clearly identifiable in these images ... Not content to conclude their vendetta cloaked as a lawful criminal investigation, Grizzle and City, then, and also for no legitimate law enforcement purpose, displayed the private images to other city employees, all also believed to be police officers or staff acting under color of law and also allowed the (John) Does to re-record these private images.

"Upon information and belief, senior leaders and or supervisors of the city's department of police have been aware of and acquiesced and participated in the viewing, dissemination and re-recording of the private images on plaintiff's iPhone but have not disciplined any of the police officers or staff involved."

Socha had been called as a key special prosecution witness at Crowley's criminal trial in May but her testimony was not helpful for the special prosecutor.

At the conclusion of the trial, Will County Judge Daniel Kennedy found Crowley not guilty of both felony charges of reckless discharge of a firearm, a case brought forward by Grizzle and the Joliet Police Department administration, led by Chief Brian Benton, who recently announced plans to step down and resign.

As for Crowley, he has since been reinstated after being away from his job for nearly a year.

"The Grizzle Affidavit was substantially false and or incomplete," states Socha's lawyer, Hall Adams of Chicago in the lawsuit. "The warrant authorized the seizure and search of plaintiff's iPhone. Specifically, the warrant authorized the search/seizure of plaintiff's iPhone to only the extent that the contents thereof 'constituted evidence of harassment via electronic communications, intimidation.'"

The FBI's recent visit to the Joliet Police Department does not necessarily mean the FBI is pursuing criminal charges against Joliet's police department administration, though one of the FBI's directives is to investigate allegations of public corruption and abuse of power.

It's also possible the FBI probe may be part of a civil proceeding.

Patch learned that the FBI's visit to the Joliet Police Department did not involve conducting any face to face interviews that day with Joliet Police officials. Instead, the purpose was to obtain copies of various electronics and data from certain members of the department.

Typically, the FBI makes no public comments in the news media about any ongoing probe and investigations it launches. However, the FBI's website offers some general insight that may help shed light into why special agents paid a visit to the Joliet Police Department in late August.

Two areas where the FBI can launch an investigation surrounds false arrest and fabrication of evidence.

"The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right against unreasonable searches or seizures. A law enforcement official using authority provided under the color of law is allowed to stop individuals and, under certain circumstances, to search them and retain their property. It is in the abuse of that discretionary power - such as an unlawful detention or illegal confiscation of property - that a violation of a person’s civil rights may occur," the FBI proclaims.

It's hard to gauge how long the FBI's probe at the Joliet Police Department will last.

According to its website, "FBI investigations vary in length. Once our investigation is complete, we forward the findings to the U.S. Attorney’s Office within the local jurisdiction and to the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., which decide whether or not to proceed toward prosecution and handle any prosecutions that follow."

Joliet Patch has provided the most in-depth coverage of the Officer Nick Crowley case. Here's some of our many stories from recent months:

• Sex Videos Of 2 Joliet Officers Illegally Seized: Lawsuit
• Joliet: Nick Crowley Returning To Work
• Officer Nick Crowley Disciplined By City
• JPD Brass Does Not Back Its Officers: Tomczak

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