Chicago, IL- A south suburban Midlothian Police officer was
indicted on federal civil rights charges alleging that he used excessive force
against two different victims in separate beating incidents in 2010 and 2011.
The defendant, Steven G. Zamiar, was indicted on two counts of violating the
victims’ civil right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a law
enforcement officer. The two-count indictment was returned by a federal grand
jury yesterday and was announced today by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney
for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert J. Holley, Special Agent in
Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Zamiar, 46, of Midlothian, joined the Midlothian Police Department in 2000.
He was a detective sergeant at the time of the alleged beating in 2010 and was
deputy chief when the alleged beating occurred in 2011. He was later demoted to
lieutenant and was placed on paid administrative leave this past September. He
will be arraigned on a date yet to be scheduled in U.S. District Court.
According to the indictment, on September 6, 2010, when he was a detective
sergeant, Zamiar used excessive force, resulting in bodily injury, against
Victim A. On November 24, 2011, when he was deputy chief of the Midlothian Police
Department, Zamiar allegedly used excessive force, resulting in bodily injury,
against Victim B. During the November 2011 incident, Zamiar allegedly used,
attempted to use, and threatened to use a dangerous weapon.
Each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000
fine. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal
statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick
Otlewski.
An indictment contains merely charges and is not evidence of guilt. The
defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the
government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.