Chicago cop gets $565,000 for drug raid

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CHICAGO, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- A Chicago police officer whose apartment was raided by fellow officers based on a bad tip that he was dealing drugs has been awarded $565,000 in damages.

A federal court jury said Friday the raid was illegal, the Chicago Tribune reported. Jurors awarded Markee Cooper Sr. and his wife, Sherita, $450,000 in compensatory damages and $115,000 in punitive damages.

Cooper's lawyer, Brendan Stiller, said the city is responsible for the compensatory damages, while the punitive damages were assessed against three officers who are personally responsible for the money. The largest amount, $100,000, is to come from Officer Sean Dailey, who obtained a search warrant based on a tip from an informant he knew only as "Lamar."

Cooper is a member of the department's organized crime division. He testified he thought the raid was a home invasion and then discovered he was surrounded by plainclothes officers.

Both Cooper and his wife said the raid traumatized their two young sons, who had to watch as their father knelt on the floor and turned over his gun and badge.