2 Men Sue Cop Over Beating Outside Nightclub In Andersonville

CHICAGO — A lawsuit was filed Thursday against a Chicago police officer who allegedly attacked two men outside a nightclub in the Andersonville neighborhood. The suit alleges the officer has not been held accountable in the attack, which left both victims with serious injuries.

Oak Park Police Officer Dwayne Jones and two others were also named in the suit in connection with the attack.

Attorney Tim Cavanagh filed the personal injury lawsuit against Chicago Police Sergeant Eric Elkins, who allegedly attacked John Sherwood and his partner, Tom Stacha, outside the bar.

Sherwood suffered a leg fracture and other injuries that required surgery, and Stacha sustained facial injuries. Both victims were taken to Weiss Memorial Hospital, then transferred to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, authorities said.

Cavanagh said a 'code of silence' in the Chicago Police Department is protecting Elkins.

"Like a lot of officers, when they have the badge, they know they can act with impunity and get away with it," Cavanagh said. "Well he beat these two men, and what did he do? He fled on foot — we have photos of him fleeing on foot, and now it's been more than 30 days later."

Cavanagh said Elkins was positively identified by witnesses more than a month ago.

"I think police should arrest him, should arrest his partner — who was an Oak Park officer — and treat him like any other person who's been accused of a criminal act," Cavanagh said.

The Chicago Police Department released the following statement in response to the allegations:

"The accusations against Sgt. Elkins are very serious and he is currently relieved of police powers pending an investigation by the Department's internal Affairs Bureau. While its inappropriate to comment during this investigation, detectives will be guided solely by the facts and he will be held accountable should any wrongdoing is discovered."

Elkins pleaded guilty in 2016 to a misdemeanor battery count after allegations of sexual harassment involving a teen at a family party, court records show. In 2003, he was charged with sexually abusing a teen while working as a security guard at a North Side high school, and was later acquitted, records show.

Image via Google Maps Streetview