This situation in Rockford really upset me when I read about it. A mother is seeking justice because she claims police hurt her teenage son during a minor marijuana stop. It involved less than one-eighth of an ounce, a small amount, yet things escalated.
Her son is an honor student and plays football. She mentioned he has never had any trouble before. But during the incident, he ended up with a broken nose, injuries around his eye, several facial wounds, a fractured shoulder, and even a hurt neck. Hearing about his injuries reminded me of how kids in my own neighborhood often say they fear encounters with police at night. I really connected with that.
The incident started when police stopped a car with several minors inside. According to the mother, the kids panicked and ran. Her son also ran but then lay down with his hands behind his back. He was talking to his brother on the phone when the officers found him.
His mother stated he repeatedly told the officers he couldn’t breathe because his face was pressed into the snow. She said one officer had his knee on her son’s back. When he tried to lift his head for air, the officer hit him in the face twice with something metal. Some witnesses said it was a flashlight, while others thought it might have been a gun.
Those blows caused serious injuries, and she said he lost consciousness. Officers then dragged him back to the car while he was still unconscious. When he woke up, he was covered in blood and began vomiting. The mother claimed that, instead of taking him to the hospital immediately, they first brought him to the station and changed his clothes. Only after that did they take him to the hospital, where doctors admitted him due to all the fractures.
Another teen who was with him also got beaten, according to the family, and needed emergency help.
The mother wrote online about what happened, describing it as excessive force and a clear abuse of power. She indicated her son kept telling the officers he was not resisting and had surrendered. She argued that no badge gives anyone the right to break a child’s face.
She also mentioned that one officer told her the principal officer involved had been fired before for hitting a minor, but somehow got his job back. That really surprised me because it raises questions about how many warnings it takes to stop someone from hurting others.
Her post generated a strong reaction. Many people commented, urging her to get a lawyer. Some suggested she collect Ring camera recordings from neighbors. Others advised her to request body camera footage right away.
One person mentioned that the stop’s location is essential and advised her to gather every video from the area. Another urged her to hire a lawyer immediately. Many echoed this sentiment, insisting the injuries were too serious to ignore.
Someone with experience in similar cases advised her to look into the officer’s history for any previous complaints. They recommended she collect reports and bodycam footage and take legal action as soon as possible.
Some warned her not to hire a lawyer from Rockford, claiming that everyone there collaborates. They suggested seeking help from lawyers in Chicago instead.
People were also very disturbed by the boy’s injuries. One remarked he didn’t even look like himself. Another said he still had peach fuzz on his face and criticized the officers for their display of power.
A few individuals noted that Rockford police have faced similar issues before. Someone even recalled a similar case involving the same officer.
Many encouraged her to contact local and Chicago news stations and share all the details. They also suggested asking nearby businesses for footage from their security cameras.
Several discussed the broader issue, stating that this incident reflects how police sometimes use excessive force on minors and highlighted the need for more training and accountability. One person expressed disbelief that something so frightening happened to a child. Another pointed out the significant concern in the police taking the boy to the station first instead of the hospital.
The mother said that now many attorneys are reaching out to her. She wants to pursue the case thoroughly and hopes the body camera footage will reveal precisely what her son went through, so that appropriate actions can be taken. You may also be interested in: Tonkawa Oklahoma Student Hit In Class And Nobody Reported It
