Family sues Blue Island in 74 Year Old Latino Man's Death -- Beat Down by Cops

Antonio Manrique, a quiet grandfather who spoke limited English, died from a beating at the hands of two Blue Island police officers, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed Thursday by his family. The lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court says the officers beat Manrique, 74, about the head and torso with their fists and batons, causing internal bleeding and blood clots that ultimately led to his death. City officials declined to comment on the suit, which stems from an Oct. 6 incident in which two officers, Charles Sykes and Berni Rzab, responded to a call in the 2300 block of West Krueger Street about gang graffiti. Upon arriving at the scene, the officers encountered two men in a dark alley and called out to both of them to stop, police reported. One man tried to flee on a bicycle, and the other, Manrique, was reported to have "trotted away." He was subsequently tackled to the ground, the police report said. The officers were driving an unmarked car and were not in uniform, said attorney Timothy Tomasik, who represents Manrique's family. Manrique appeared to be shaking after the incident, the police report said. He told officers he was suffering from a diabetic attack. "By all accounts, he was not violating any law," Tomasik said. "He was not threatening anyone." He was not charged with a crime. Tomasik described Manrique as a gentle and frail man who had an unsteady gait and would tremble when he walked. "This is a case of a grandfather who is now dead because police officers exercised extreme and excessive force, killing an innocent elderly gentleman," he said. Manrique, a Mexican immigrant, suffered several broken ribs during the confrontation and was taken to the hospital. He was covered in cuts and bruises, Tomasik said. Manrique died four days later. [more]