Suit: Man died in Chicago Police custody, officers ignored medical condition

A lawsuit filed Thursday claims a man died in August in custody at a South Side Chicago Police lockup despite his repeated requests for medical attention.

Rhonda Walker filed the wrongful death lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court alleging Charles Edward Jones died because officers refused to provide medical treatment while he was in custody.

Jones, 56, died at 7:10 a.m. Aug. 23 at the Grand Crossing District police station at 7040 S. Cottage Grove Ave., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

He had turned himself in for an outstanding warrant at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 22, the suit said. While in custody, Jones told officers that he had a medical condition and felt pain in his feet, legs and abdomen, the suit claims.

Jones, of the 6900 block of South Woodlawn, was placed in a holding cell where he repeatedly requested medical attention, which he was denied, the suit claims.

On the morning of Aug. 23, officers found Jones dead in his cell, the suit alleges.

The suit alleges the city and the officers, who were also named as defendants, were willful and wanton in their conduct, and asks for at least $50,000 in damages.

Chicago Police could not provide information on the death. A representative of the city’s Law Department did not respond to requests for comment.