Comments for Lawsuit: Cops dangle man from 2nd floor window, cause his death

Lawsuit: Cops dangle man from 2nd floor window, cause his death

2009-11-13T22:02:45Z

The estate of a man allegedly held by his legs from the second floor window of his home by two Chicago police officers is suing the city and the individual police officers.

According to the complaint, on March 10, 2009, police officers Henry Thomas and Patrick Kane entered the home of Matthias Mayhorn without permission, came into contact with Mayhorn on the second floor, threatened him with injury and/or death by hanging him by his legs out of the second floor window, fired a weapon at him while he was hanging out of the window, dropped him onto the pavement below and delayed in summoning medical assistance.

Thomas and Kane also interviewed witnesses and investigated the occurrence in an improper fashion, the complaint states.

Mayhorn died on March 10, 2009.

Read the complaint after the jump.

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11 13 09 Mayhorn v City -

Comment from anthony bozeman on 2009-11-13

2009-11-14T02:27:21Z

All it take is a few bad apples to tarnish the whole department.

Comment from westtown dude on 2009-11-13

2009-11-14T02:29:02Z

sorry, matthias mayhorn is not the poor clean dude he is being made up to be.

According to public records, Mayhorn had been convicted of several felonies, including aggravated domestic battery, possession of a firearm and escape from a peace officer. Mayhorn was sentenced to prison in each case and was last released in 2004, the records show.

Comment from Joe the Cop on 2009-11-13

2009-11-14T02:59:34Z

I'm wondering if the deceased didn't jump out the window in an effort to get away from the police. Wouldn't be the first time.

Comment from Gladys J Cortez on 2009-11-14

2009-11-14T16:30:45Z

Just because someone isn't a card-carrying, halo-bearing angel, that doesn't give ANYONE, much less the police, the right to hold him out a window and drop him.

Further: how does the fact that he was convicted of crimes five years ago have ANY bearing on this incident? If you got a speeding ticket five years back, does that justify having your car impounded, dismantled, and searched, just because you get caught not wearing a seatbelt NOW?

Granted, nowhere does it say what the police were investigating when this happened; but even if it was some heinous crime and the police officers thought he was guilty as sin, again: doesn't justify being dropped out the window and shot at. Deciding the question of guilt or innocence, and deciding the severity of punishments, are what the judges and juries are expected to do; the police officers are just expected to catch the man so the justice system can do its work, and dropping a man out the window has no part in that process.

Comment from Joe the Cop on 2009-11-14

2009-11-15T00:13:22Z

I should've researched this before I answered. My gut instinct was correct. Mayhorn was a convicted felon who not only tried to climb out a window when the cops came, but he also aimed a gun at them. http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/03/police-shoot-person-on-s-side.html

This is another example of some lowlife's family trying to cash in on the police lotto.