By Matt Simonette

Staff writer

A Chicago man last week filed a federal civil suit against five Chicago police officers and the City of Chicago, alleging that he was unlawfully arrested for prostitution, maliciously prosecuted and defamed by the defendants.

According to the complaint, Dion Contreras of Chicago was approached June 5, 2006, in front of a Lakeview gay bar by an undercover officer in an unmarked squad car.

The officer, allegedly working as part of a sting operation called “Operation Angelo,” told Contreras, “I’ll give you $20 for a blowjob.”

Contreras responded that he would do it for free, leaving the officer with a choice between proceeding with an unwanted sexual encounter or saying no and blowing his cover.

The officer then signaled the other officers to close in and arrest Contreras.

Contreras’ attorney, Brendan Shiller, said his client was erroneously swept into a large-scale sting operation. Shiller said that police had arrested several men that night and had even used pre-printed reports to expedite Contreras’ arrest.

At 23rd District police headquarters, Contreras was searched and found to be in possession of a small amount of cocaine. He was charged with prostitution and possession of a controlled substance and was held in jail for two days before posting bond.

Police then forwarded a copy of the charges to Contreras’ employer, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Contreras was first placed on administrative leave, then suspended pending a review by ICJIA.

“They outed him to his employer, then told them that he was a criminal,” said Shiller.

The prostitution charge against Contreras was dropped last August while the possession charge was dropped in November.

The administrative review at ICJIA is nevertheless still ongoing, according to Shiller, so Contreras has been unable to return to his job.

The suit asks for compensation for mental, emotional and physical damages, lost wages, legal fees, traumas, humiliation, loss of liberty and mental distress and anguish.

Though Contreras was able to bond himself out of jail, Shiller said the whole ordeal was a traumatic one for his client.

“Just going through intake is traumatic. Even one night in County Jail is bad enough,” Shiller said.