Jurors in Chicago awarded $1 million to man that was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to prison for more than a year.

John Collins was arrested on charges of aggravated battery to a police officer in 2006. 

From NBC Chicago:

After a three-day trial, a jury found the city of Chicago and Chicago police Officer Michael Garza guilty of malicious prosecution. “I felt like a right in the pool of wrong,” Collins said of his time in jail. “I didn’t want to swim in that pool no more, but I didn’t want to drown either. So I kept fighting.” When officers pulled Collins over in 2006, [the barber] had just left his salon. One officer accused him of kicking and spitting on them, but a jury acquitted Collins and he was released from Cook County in 2007.

Read more at NBC Chicago

Due to the error, Collins missed the birth of his son Elwood who is now 7.

A spokesman for the city’s Law Department said they are “disappointed” in the verdict in the case. The department plans to “explore all available options including an appeal.”

Thoughts on the verdict?

Has justice been served or should the police department get a more severe penalty?

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