Supreme Court Won't Hear Case Against Darien Police Officer

The U.S. Supreme Court on March 7 denied a request to hear the case of an 89-year-old Hinsdale woman who in 2005 accused a Darien police officer of beating her in the 75th Street Walmart.

Two lower courts had ruled in favor of Officer Scott Bukovic, Walmart and the city of Darien.

June O. Carlson filed her initial complaint in 2007 after her adult son, who has a disability, scratched his arm while shopping with her at Walmart, according to court documents.

Store employees said they called the police after Carlson’s son made threatening gestures as his mother filled out a claim form for the scratch.

Bukovic, who was one of the responding officers, attempted to escort Carlson out of the store by placing a hand on her arm, according to the documents.

In Carlson’s recounting, Bukovic “brutalized and attacked” her, the documents said.

Carlson sued Bukovic, Walmart and the city of Darien, alleging that Bukovic used excessive force. She also claimed Darien failed to adequately train him.

In June 2009, a jury ruled in favor of the three defendants, holding that Bukovic did not illegally seize Carlson. The case went before the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, which in September 2010 upheld the trial court’s ruling.

Darien Police Chief Robert Pavelchik said that he is pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear Carlson’s case.

“The trial court got it right and the appellate court got it right,” he said. “The officer didn’t do anything wrong. He didn’t brutalize this woman.”

Arthur Jaros, Jr., the attorney who represented Carlson, was unavailable for comment.