Family gets legal victory over Chicago Police Department about possible cover up

Chicago Police SUVs
Photo credit Scott Olson/Getty Images

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The family of a woman who was hit by a Chicago police SUV in 2019 — and who died nearly three years later at the age of 35 — said they believe the city is covering up evidence in the case.

Martina Standley suffered a traumatic brain injury. She died in January 2022.

Police body camera video shows her motioning to the police SUV and then touching the spotlight.

The officer then drove the vehicle forward and knocked the woman into the street near 71st Street and Jeffery Boulevard.

Activist Eric Russell was with her family at the scene on Tuesday.

He noted that the officer who was driving said, “Girl, ain’t nobody hit you like that.”

The officer then swore when he saw the blood coming from her head and her leg under the front tire, Russell said.

“While she lay unconscious, Chicago police let their vehicle sit on her leg for nine minutes,” said activist Will Calloway.

Standley’s mother Forestine Williams said, “I still do not have an autopsy report. I believe and I’m totally convinced that it’s a cover-up.”

Standley died in her sleep early this year.

Her mother believes it was from her injuries from 2019.

Will Calloway sued the police department to get the body-camera video released.

A judge ruled the police department could be on the hook for more than $700,000 in damages for refusing to turn over information about the case, including emails and text messages.

He believes the department and the city are hiding something.

He said it reminds him of 2015, when he fought to get the police video of officer Jason Van Dyke fatally shooting Laquan McDonald.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images