Cleared Once By Jury in County Court, Former Joliet Cop Now Indicted By Feds

JOLIET, IL — More than three years ago, a Will County jury found a former Joliet cop charged with beating a woman while on duty not guilty. On Tuesday, federal prosecutors charged him with using unreasonable force for the same incident.

Thomas O’Connor, 40, faces up to 10 years in prison if he is convicted.

Video played during O’Connor’s June 2013 trial showed him punching 43-year-old Shantique Jackson in the head more than a dozen times while trying to handcuff her in February 2012.

Jackson had called 911 to complain about her boyfriend, 48-year-old Anthony Layne, allegedly "putting his hands on" her the day before.

Jackson testified during the trial that on the night of the beating she had called Layne's room at the Star Inn in Joliet but a woman answered the phone. She drove to the West Jefferson Street motel and banged and kicked Layne's door but he did not answer, she said, so she called the police.

After O'Connor arrived, Layne opened the door and called Jackson a "disgruntled ex," said Jackson, who admitted to rushing up and kicking her boyfriend in the leg. O'Connor testified that he went to take her into custody but she resisted his attempts to handcuff her.

O'Connor also testified that when Jackson called 911, she told the dispatcher that Layne was a convicted murderer.

During the trial, O’Connor’s attorney, Jeff Tomczak, stressed to the jury that O'Connor was alone at the Star Inn, which he called a "seedy hotel," and was concerned about Layne or possibly someone else coming after him while he was trying to handcuff Jackson.

O’Connor lost his job over the incident.

Tomczak said he will defend O’Connor in the federal case.

“In 2013, a Will County jury was presented with all the evidence, including videotaped evidence from at least four angles,” Tomczak said. “They heard testimony from the victim, police expert witnesses, and the defendant. It took this jury less than two hours to find my client not guilty on all counts, including the misdemeanor.

“We’re disappointed that the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office has decided to second-guess 12 fully informed Will County citizens who unanimously determined in less than two hours that Mr. O’Connor’s decisions and actions under extremely stressful circumstances that night were justified,” he said. “It is also somewhat disheartening for our sworn police officers to now realize that they may be subject to additional prosecution even after a jury finds their actions reasonable and appropriate.”