ESL and officers named in $1.15 million suit

Three East St. Louis police officers and the city are being sued by a woman who claims she was illegally jailed after being wrongfully arrested for resisting arrest.

Nicole J. Scott, who was pregnant at the time, claims she was detained and with great force shoved by police officers against a car at the Metro transit parking lot in East St. Louis on May 20, 2006.

Scott is seeking in excess of $1.15 million in compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorneys' fees and costs, from the city of East St. Louis and police officers Ricky Perry, Gilda Johnson and officer Randolph.

According to the complaint filed May 15 in St. Clair County Circuit Court, Scott was "physically abused, searched, detained and arrested" without probable cause or legal justification.

She claims she was placed in a jail cell with urine and feces on the floor, with dirty bunk beds, without running water and without a working toilet.

"That at relevant times as a result of the conditions of the said jail cell, the plaintiff was forced to vomit," the complaint states.

Scott claims her right to due process and to be free of unlawful search and seizure, as well as free of cruel and unusual punishment, were violated. She also claims wrongful imprisonment and battery.

She claims she suffered humiliation, embarrassment, mental and physical trauma and pain and distress. She also claims she missed opportunities and time for employment.

Scott is represented by Rhonda D. Fiss of Belleville.