EDWARDSVILLE - Patrick Ferrari of Glen Carbon filed suit against the village and police chief Todd Link on Jan. 28, claiming $5,109,640 in damages for harassment, intimidation, false arrests, and malicious prosecutions.
Along with Link he sued village administrator Jamie Bowden, village attorney James Schrempf, administrative assistant Melissa Millard, utility superintendent John Leezy, and mayor Robert Jackstadt.
Ferrari filed his complaint at circuit court without counsel.
He claims he went to village hall because the village turned off his water while his family was out of town dealing with a death in the family, and that the village charged him $100 to turn the water back on.
After he asked when he could get a refund, the clerk said, “Never as long as you live in Glen Carbon. You only get it back after you move.”
He claims he stated that was stealing and, “You’re just thieves.”
He claims no crime was committed, no threats were made, and absolutely no one was assaulted.
“Plaintiff did not use profanity or distasteful language in any way,” he wrote.
He paid the deposit and departed.
After that, he claims that Millard or one of her clerks called police and waited for them before they talked to him.
He claims he contacted Link, Bowden, and Jackstadt, to resolve the waste of taxpayer’s money by having four officers minimum standing around.
He received a letter from them in June 2019, threatening to charge him with disorderly conduct and trespass, and claims that the letter was unlawful and unconstitutional.
In September 2019, he went to the public works building to discuss a water problem and Leezy came outside to talk.
He remained on the parking lot and never entered the building.
He claims Leezy said he wouldn’t help, so he left.
Link then filed a warrant for his arrest for criminal trespass and within 15 minutes four officers came to his door, he claims.
They told him Link issued the warrant but they didn’t arrest him.
He claims he stopped by the police station ten days later to find out the status of the warrant.
“All of a sudden seven police officers surrounded the plaintiff and told him he was under arrest,” he wrote.
“They wrenched his arms behind him and officer Miller forcefully twisted his arms to the point of extreme pain.”
He claims officer Blind said the fine was $2,500 and he could post ten percent and go home or spend the weekend in Madison County jail.
He claims that Blind said he couldn’t accept a credit card.
He claims the maximum fine for the offense was $500, and he had $50 in cash and could have paid and left.
He claims Blind handcuffed him to a steel table for a couple hours, to delay his telephone call for outside assistance.
His sister arrived just in time with $250 so he could go home.
He claims Link filed another warrant in January 2020, for going to village hall to deliver a legal motion he filed in court earlier that day.
He claims that Glen Carbon police didn’t arrest him but Link knew sheriff’s deputies would arrest him when he went to the courthouse.
He was brought before associate judge Philip Alfeld and assistant state’s attorney Crystal Uhe for what he claims was an unethical and illegal hearing.
Alfeld set a $3,000 bond when the cap on the bond was $100.
His suit seeks $3 million for wrongful arrests, $1.25 million for harassment and malicious and predatory prosecutions, $800,000 for intentional violations of laws, rules, and rights, and $59,640 for denial of liberties and freedoms.
He named Barbara Ferrari as second plaintiff but made no allegations about her.
He gave their address at 265 East Ingle Drive.