CHICAGO (AP) — A man who contends Chicago police tortured him into wrongfully confessing to murder is suing the city, Cook County and a range of officials.
Michael Tillman's lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court. It comes six months after Tillman was freed from prison and declared innocent of a 1986 rape and murder. He spent more than 23 years behind bars.
Tillman says former Chicago police Lt. Jon Burge and other officers beat him with a phone book, punched him, put a gun to his head, suffocated him with a plastic bag and poured 7-Up into his nose.
He says the abuse lasted three days until he agreed to confess.
Burge was convicted last month of lying about the torture of suspects.
Several others who claim they were abused by Burge and his officers have lawsuits pending.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
Photo: Defender/Worsom Robinson
Michael Tillman's lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court. It comes six months after Tillman was freed from prison and declared innocent of a 1986 rape and murder. He spent more than 23 years behind bars.
Tillman says former Chicago police Lt. Jon Burge and other officers beat him with a phone book, punched him, put a gun to his head, suffocated him with a plastic bag and poured 7-Up into his nose.
He says the abuse lasted three days until he agreed to confess.
Burge was convicted last month of lying about the torture of suspects.
Several others who claim they were abused by Burge and his officers have lawsuits pending.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
Photo: Defender/Worsom Robinson
