woman on antidpressants screams and yells at cop

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Suburban Officer Accused Of Brutality

Residents Believe Officer Acted Appropriately

POSTED: 7:16 pm CST February 18, 2005

UPDATED: 12:40 am CST February 19, 2005

CHANNAHON, Ill. -- A case of alleged police brutality caught on an officer's

dashboard video camera resulted in the cop's suspension last month.

Images: Caught On Tape: Officer Grabs Woman By Neck

Video: Watch Tape Of Altercation

However, dozens of residents have come to the officer's defense.

Squad car video shows the altercation between motorist Debra Losacco and Officer

Ed Bischoff, which occurred in November 2004.

According to Daily Herald, Losacco was involved in a car accident near

her home on the morning of the altercation. She walked back to her house and got

into a truck, which she drove back to the accident scene in an apparent attempt

to pull the wrecked vehicle from a ditch.

But Bischoff arrived at the scene and tried to place Losacco under arrest for

drunken driving. After handcuffing her, the video shows Bischoff apparently

grabbing the woman by the neck and shoving her against the back of the pickup

truck.

" It was clearly an officer grabbing a female prisoner in handcuffs, he had in

custody, by the throat, said Channahon Mayor ph Cook. " Even an intoxicated

person has rights. "

Bischoff was suspended Jan. 31 without pay for 30 days.

However, not everyone agrees that Bischoff used excessive force.

" He asked her, 'Have you been drinking?' She said, 'No; I'm taking medication,' "

said Reimer, Bischoff's attorney. " This case is not about the excessive

use of force. This case is about a woman who made a decision to resist arrest,

drive twice while intoxicated after being given an opportunity to get a break. "

More than 100 residents attended the January hearing in support of the officer,

saying Bischoff did everything he could to avoid arresting the woman, even

though she appeared impaired.

Little, who witnessed the altercation, said she believes Losacco was under

the influence.

" She was screaming and yelling at him, calling him names. She was telling him

she is on tons of medication, " Little said. " By all means did he act

reasonably. "

Losacco declined NBC5's request for an interview. Police lab tests on the woman

showed the presence of an antidepressant and a medication to treat panic

disorder, along with two over-the-counter drugs.

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