Park Ridge child grabbed, pinned to sidewalk in busy area by man who self-identified as police officer

Chicago and Park Ridge Police have launched investigations after a man who identified himself as a Chicago police officer pinned a Park Ridge 14-year-old to the sidewalk in Uptown Park Ridge Friday, pressed a knee into his back and accused the boy of stealing a bike, officials said Tuesday.

The child’s family has engaged a law firm and believes the incident was racially motivated, according to the boy’s mother, who said the attorneys intend to file a lawsuit.

“All he saw was a brown-skinned boy out of a group of many whiter fellows who were with him,” Attorney Antonio Romanucci said. “And that’s the one he chose to restrain.”

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