Cop got drunk at holiday work party, then fatally hit woman on sidewalk, IL lawsuit says
.jpeg "A 56-year-old woman was killed when an off-duty cop crashed into her while intoxicated, according to a lawsuit.")
A woman’s family is suing after they say an off-duty, intoxicated police officer fatally crashed into her in Illinois, according to a lawsuit.
On Dec. 6, Tangie Brown, who was a police officer, attended a holiday work party for the Chicago Police Department’s 18th District, according to a civil complaint filed Nov. 21.
The lawsuit lists Brown, the city of Chicago, the Chicago Police Department and the bar where the party was held as defendants.
McClatchy News reached out to the city of Chicago and the bar for comment but did not immediately hear back. Attorney information for Brown was not available.
The Chicago Police Department said in an email it cannot comment on pending litigation.
During the party, Brown consumed alcohol and became intoxicated, the lawsuit said.
Brown left the party at 12:18 a.m. still intoxicated, according to the lawsuit. Then, around 12:30 a.m., she was driving and struck 56-year-old Maria Schwab, who was on a sidewalk, the court document said.
Brown was using the GPS on her phone when she dropped it and tried to pick it up, prosecutors said in court, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Prosecutors said she realized she was driving toward a median and turned, causing her to go over a curb and hit Schwab and another woman, the outlet reported.
Schwab was pinned against a fence and then fell several feet onto a lower-level patio when Brown reversed, prosecutors said, according to the outlet.
Brown was “acting within the scope of her employment and acting as an agent of the (city of Chicago),” the lawsuit said.
Schwab was a 1st-through-5th grade teacher in Texas before she retired, her obituary said. She continued working in education and development after retirement.
“She loved her colleagues and was always ready to provide guidance, mentorship, and encouragement,” the obituary said.
Brown was charged with aggravated DUI/accident/death, aggravated use of communication device/death, two counts of failure to give info/render aid/injury and reckless driving, WFLD reported.
Her family is asking for an undetermined amount in damages.
This story was originally published November 27, 2024 at 12:15 PM with the headline "Cop got drunk at holiday work party, then fatally hit woman on sidewalk, IL lawsuit says."
