A federal court jury has rejected claims that Evanston police violated the civil rights of two juveniles arrested on disorderly conduct charges outside the Century Theaters downtown three years ago.
The police department, in a news release about the case today, says the jury verdict was returned on July 18.
The police say officers arrested the youths after they repeatedly ignored orders to get out of traffic lanes on the street in front of the theater for their own safety on July 29, 2005.
Guardians of the juveniles complained to the city’s Human Services Committee, alleging the youths were victims of racial profiling and harassment, and a year after the incident they filed a federal lawsuit alleging civil rights violations by the city and four police officers.
Three of the officers were dropped from the case immediately before trial, and the jury verdict exonerated the city and the remaining officer.