Black Woman Gets $250,000 To Settle Her Joliet Police Federal Lawsuit

JOLIET, IL ? A Black woman in her 40s, Konika Morrow, who was violently tackled to the ground and injured by Joliet Police Officer Adam Stapleton and then arrested on what were later determined to be bogus criminal charges of obstruction of justice, has agreed to accept $250,000 from the city of Joliet in exchange for dropping her federal civil rights lawsuit accusing Stapleton of excessive force.

In recent days, Morrow signed off on the $250,000 settlement that was worked out by her Chicago law firm of Henderson Parks. In exchange for receiving the $250,000 payment, Morrow promised that she will never "make disparaging or degrading remarks about the released parties to a member of the news media, on any social media platform, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, or in any comment section or posting on the Internet in any way related (to) the events alleged in the litigation referenced earlier."

Morrow acknowledges that a payment of $100 within the $250,000 settlement is given to her "in consideration for this confidentiality and non-disparagement."

So what qualifies as degrading or disparaging remarks?

According to Morrow's settlement, such remarks include "any accusation of illegal, unjust, unconstitutional or otherwise wrongful conduct related to the events giving rise to the litigation."

Morrow signed off on the lawsuit settlement last week, on Nov. 2, as did acting city of Joliet manager Rod Tonelli. Morrow's main lawyers were Devlin Schoop and Victor Henderson, the court documents show.

Morrow's 2020 federal lawsuit maintained that race was a key factor in why the Joliet police officers acted the way they did toward Morrow. The incident of Morrow being tackled and arrested by Stapleton became the subject of a YouTube video.

"Ms. Morrow, Joshua (Cooley), and the other civilians at the vigil are African-American," her lawyer noted. "Officers Stapleton and Vertin, along with the majority of the officers who arrived at the vigil, are white ... Defendants agreed, upon information and belief, to cover up Officer Stapleton's wrongful takedown of Ms. Morrow by creating a false report and charging Ms. Morrow."

Joliet Patch has produced numerous stories over the past four years surrounding the controversial arrest of Morrow, who suffered a tear in her meniscus that required surgery and rehabilitation. Konika Morrow was tackled by Officer Stapleton on July 9, 2019, while Al Roechner was in charge of the Joliet police force. The incident occurred near a church vigil for missing Joliet resident Jasmine Morrow, who was later found to be safe in Chicago.

Konika Morrow told Joliet Patch in 2019 that Stapleton came in his patrol car "and he jumped out of the car. I'm tackled out of nowhere by this officer after he pulls up. I just felt being taken off my feet. My face hit the ground. He flings me over, and I was like, 'Why the hell is this happening?'"

Regarding Konika Morrow's arrest, Joliet police said at the time that: "the crowd began threatening the officers with harm to them and their families and made racial/derogatory remarks towards the officers. At one point, Morrow, approached the officers, and she was told to stay back. When an officer put his arm out to keep Morrow from the other officers, Morrow attempted to hit the officer with her arm. After a brief struggle, Morrow was placed into custody."

The Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow supported the Joliet Police Department's decision to arrest Morrow, however, Glasgow's case against Morrow fell apart earlier this year in the courtroom of Will County Judge Jessica Colon-Sayre.

Judge Colon entered a not-guilty verdict on the obstruction of justice charge against Morrow, bringing an end to the Joliet woman's four-year-long criminal case ordeal.

Previous Joliet Patch coverage on Konika Morrow's Arrest:

Joliet Cop Adam Stapleton Assaulted Me, Konika Morrow Tells Patch

Vigil Arrest Sparks Calls For JPD To Change How Policing Is Done

Joliet Officer Who Tackled Konika Morrow Faces Federal Suit

Arrest Made At Site Of Vigil For Missing Woman