(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The family of Irene Chavez has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Chicago and the police officers who arrested her before she died by suicide Dec. 18 in a police holding cell.
The military veteran was taken into custody after an altercation at Jeffrey Pub Tavern. She is seen in police body-cam video telling officers she suffers from PTSD.
Her advocates say Chavez should have been seen by crisis-intervention specialists. Attorney Andrew Stroth said Chavez’s family is demanding accountability.
“It was the actions and the inactions of the police officers that resulted in her death,” he said at a Tuesday news conference.
Iris Chavez, sister of Irene Chavez, questioned how many more lawsuits are needed to change the police department.
Northwestern Law professor Sheila Betty, an attorney for the Chavez family, said Irene was having a mental health breakdown that December night.
The lawsuit claims the holding cell Irene died in had obvious suicide hazards: There were metal bars sticking out that someone could harm themselves with, and the observation window was covered with paper.
Irene Chavez was found hanging in the cell.
WBBM Newsradio has reached out to the city for comment.
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