Woman Sues Darien, Officer And Wal-Mart

POSTED: 7:19 am CST January 4, 2007
UPDATED: 9:24 am CST January 4, 2007


DARIEN, Ill. -- A now 85-year-old Hinsdale woman claims she was beaten by a police officer in 2005 after her diabetic and deaf son was refused proper medical care for a gash he suffered at a Wal-Mart store.

As a result of the alleged assault by a Darien police officer, June O. Carlson, who was 83 at the time of the incident,, claims she suffered extreme emotional distress, involuntary urination, dizzy spells, and the loss of her ability to drive, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court.

She claims the officer, Scott Bukovic, took "sadistic pleasure" in the extreme and outrageous acts, which included grabbing her arms and breast, and striking her legs repeatedly. Furthermore, the Darien Police Department was aware of the improper abusive behavior by Bukovic, but failed to take action preventing future incidents, the suit alleges.


The eight-count suit against Bukovic, the city of Darien, and Wal-Mart seeks in excess of $10 million.

On Jan. 3, 2005, Carlson and her adult son, Paul G. Carlson, both of Hinsdale, were shopping at the Wal-Mart store at 75th Street and Fairmount Avenue in Darien, according to the suit.

Paul Carlson was pushing a shopping cart around a corner when he inadvertently brushed against a fire hose box in the store. A piece of metal hanging from the bottom of the box snagged his skin, causing a two-and-a-half inch gash on his left arm. The metal piece is not part of the box's design, according to the suit.

Over a loud speaker, June Carlson was called to a first-aid area of the store, where she saw that Wal-Mart personnel had inadequately administered first aid with a small-sized gauze and iodine pad, the suit claims. She expressed concern for the injury and aid provided, and additional aid was denied, the suit said.

Then a supervisor contacted Darien police and two officers, including Bukovic, arrived.

Almost immediately, Bukovic demanded that June Carlson turn over her purse, he asked if she had a driver’s license and he directed her to leave her son behind and exit the store, according to the suit. She declined to give up her purse and she asked why he demanded her purse.

As her son watched, Bukovic allegedly forcibly took June Carlson by one or both arms and grabbed her purse. She was fearful of her physical safety and backed away saying, "Don't touch me," to the officer. He then grabbed both her arms, compressed her left breast, and repeatedly struck her in the legs with his knees, the suit alleges.

Following the incident, June Carlson contends she suffered bruises to both arms and her left breast, a swollen elbow, numbness in her left leg, shaking in her right leg, and an aggravated high blood pressure. She is also incapable of driving anymore, the suit said.

In addition, her son has a scar on his arm where the piece of metal had snagged his skin, the suit said.



dayumm...

That's messed up. I don't get why it was necessary to get police involved. How hard would it have been to just give a deaf man and his 85 yr. old mother a bigger gauge pad.