Man sues Chicago officer accused of punching him in hospital

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Clauzell Gause was captured on hospital surveillance footage punching and shoving a 24-year-old man who had struck him while being transported for a mental health evaluation. | Sun-Times library

A Chicago man who accuses a police officer of punching him while handcuffed two years ago is suing that officer, the police department and the city.

A lawsuit filed Sunday in federal court on behalf of Rayshon Gartley says Officer Clauzell Gause violated his civil rights when he was struck at Jackson Park Hospital as Gartley was undergoing a mental health evaluation.

Surveillance video captured the incident. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

Official misconduct charges stemming from the incident were recently filed against Gause. State prosecutors have said Gartley punched Gause and Gause hit the handcuffed Gartley later in retribution.

Gause’s attorney has said his client served “honorably” as an officer for more than a decade.

A city law department spokesman said it hadn’t seen the suit and couldn’t comment.

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