protect and serve;

Normal, IL — Body camera footage revealing the arrest of an innocent college student is now at the center of a federal lawsuit against the Normal police officers involved. The Pantagraph obtained the videos via a Freedom of Information Act request, and it is nothing short of infuriating. The victim, Taylor Brown, alleges she was arrested without probable cause, and officers used excessive force — and the video proves her case. For standing up for her rights, police attacked and brutalized her.

On Feb. 9, 2023, Brown, an 18-year-old college student, voluntarily went with police to the station for questioning about a fire at her Parktrail Road apartment. The lawsuit reveals that her arrest occurred after she refused to hand over her phone to the police, who did not possess a warrant for it but demanded it anyway. Brown's assertion of her rights led to an attack on her by multiple officers.

Brown's attorney, Abby D. Bakos, stated, "She knew her rights, and she knew what these officers were trying to do was wrong, and it was illegal."

Highlighting the corruption within the department is the fact that although the Pantagraph was given the videos, Bakos has not received them from the Town of Normal, despite filing a records request. She also noted that the Normal Police Department has refused to identify the arresting officers, leading her to seek a subpoena........more........