Pair Sue Over Allegedly Unprovoked Police Beating

A pair of men are suing the Chicago Police Department for what they claim was an unprovoked beating by plainclothes police officers outside a Bucktown restaurant in early February. Matthew Clark and University of Chicago lecturer Gregory Malandrucco have filed the lawsuit over the attack during which they claim they both suffered broken noses and concussions. The incident allegedly began inside Arturo's, a Mexican restaurant at the corner of Armitage and Western. CBS 2 has surveillance footage of the beatings. Per the Tribune:

The encounter began with an incident inside of the restaurant when Malandrucco -- as he was leaving -- blocked the path of the two cops and a female officer as they were also leaving, the suit claims.

One of the officers shoved Malandrucco, who responded that he was "putting on his coat and would get out of his way shortly," the suit claims. Outside, the officers were waiting for the men and aggressively pursued them, despite attempts by both plaintiffs to shake hands and make peace, the suit claims.

The suit claims the men called 911 after the beating but that when uniformed officers arrived on the scene, they offered no assistance but instead "switched places with the plainclothes officer who was on top of Mr. Malandrucco, holding him down and striking him in the process." An attorney for the men admitted they had had alcohol that night but insisted that neither had alcohol at Arturo's or were aggressive towards the officers. A representative for the city had no comment as city lawyers had yet to see the lawsuit.