Former Elgin Resident Claims Jail Officer Abused Him

ELGIN, IL — The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office is investigating a complaint filed by a former Elgin resident, who claims a county jail officer abused him and used an anti-gay slur when he was in jail after he drove his mother's car into a ditch March 10, and was arrested, the Daily Herald reported. According to the news report, 21-year-old Malik Moreno claims the officer hung up on Moreno's phone call with his mother, saying he was too loud, to which Moreno responded with, "Are you (expletive) kidding me?"

According to Moreno, the officer told him to sit down and he made a comment about the officer's appearance, The Daily Herald reported. A short time later, the officer took him to another room to change into a jail uniform, grabbed him by the neck and slammed his head into a cement wall. Moreno said the officer pushed him down, made him crawl in what he described as "in a frog position" to another room, said an anti-gay slur and released him, although other officers made him stay down before taking him to a jail cell, according to the Daily Herald said. The Daily Herald added that the office denied their Freedom of Information Act request for records of the man's booking, due to the pending investigation.

After picking up her son, Moreno's mother said she called 911 from their home to make a police report, and took Moreno to an emergency room at a Rockford hospital, The Daily Herald said. According to his paperwork from the hospital, he was given a prescription for pain medication and was diagnosed with a head injury and neck strain.

The Daily Herald said according to court records, Moreno has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to reduce speed, adding that he pleaded not guilty to the charges. Records report his next court date is scheduled for April 11.