Craig Swistowicz, a 14-year veteran, was assigned to a federal task force in 2007 when he and other agents raided a South Side garage.
Swistowicz was later charged after the government alleged that he beat suspect Jose Parra during the arrest. He was charged with using unreasonable force by striking the suspect, breaking his nose and causing other facial injuries.
Swistowicz argued that Parra had a gun in his waistband and was resisting arrest when he struck him, said Michael A. Ficaro, Swistowicz's attorney. Parra was later convicted of drug trafficking, he said.
A jury returned the verdict following an eight-day trial, Ficaro said. Swistowicz has been assigned to desk duty since he was stripped of police powers in 2008 over the allegations and will likely remain there while the Independent Police Review Authority conducts its own investigation, Ficaro said. IPRA investigates allegations of excessive force by Chicago police officers.
But the officer, who has worked in the Chicago Lawn District as well as on gang and intelligence teams, hopes to return to the same kind of work, Ficaro said.
"I think he would still want to do what is the most significant police work he is capable of doing,'' Ficaro said. "He will want to be running through doors going after bad guys.''
-- Annie Sweeney
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