Evangelina Paredes Lawsuit: Woman Claims Illinois Cop Asked For Date After Giving Her A Ticket

CHICAGO -- A suburban Chicago police officer used a $132 speeding ticket he issued to track down a woman and ask her for a date, saying the least he could do for costing her so much money was to buy her dinner, a lawsuit filed by the woman alleges.

Evangelina Paredes accuses Stickney cop Chris Collins of violating her privacy by searching motor-vehicle records for her address, then leaving a handwritten note on her car windshield outside her apartment two days after she was ticketed.

A copy of the alleged note was attached to the lawsuit, filed last week in U.S. District Court in Chicago. It starts with an attempt at self-deprecating humor, saying, "It's Chris ... that ugly bald Stickney cop who gave you that ticket."

"I know this may seem crazy and you're probably right, but truth is I have not stopped thinking about you since," it continues. "I don't expect a girl as attractive as you to ... even go for a guy like me, but I'm taking a shot anyways."

The note goes on to say he would understand if Paredes did not get in touch.

"But hey," it continues apologetically, "I did cost you $132 – least I can do is buy you dinner."

Collins, 27, told The Associated Press by phone on Tuesday that he hadn't yet hired an attorney and couldn't comment.

According to the lawsuit, Collins pulled Paredes over on Oct. 22 in Stickney, a village just southwest of Chicago. The note allegedly appeared on her car in a parking lot next to her apartment.

"The letter caused plaintiff to suffer great fear and anxiety," the lawsuit says. "Plaintiff could not believe that a police officer would use his access to her personal information to find her home and stalk her."

The suit, which seeks unspecified payments in damages, also accuses Collins of using his "authority and position as a police officer not to protect the public, but to attempt to manipulate the plaintiff into going out on a date with him."

The lawsuit also names Stickney Police Chief Joseph Kretch and the village of Stickney. A message left on Kretch's voicemail Tuesday was not immediately returned. Stickney Mayor Daniel O'Reilly also didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

Comments

[old mort]

12:46 AM on 01/14/2012

I don't like cops...this is just another arrogant hotshot thinking he can get away with anything just because he wears a badge. You know,,,,they call it yield to the shield....jerks!

[Sam8520]

05:18 PM on 01/09/2012

She's a psycho if you ask me. One note from the guy and she goes lawsuit happy, suing the cop, his boss, and the whole town.

What she needs isn't money from the lawsuit. What she needs a straitjack­et and a nice soft padded room where she can't hurt anybody...

[Karissa36]

09:56 PM on 01/06/2012

Major over-reaction on her part.

[RJCA]

10:06 AM on 01/07/2012

I'm inclined to believe it's more of a deliberate and calculated action ($$$), rather then an over-reaction, Karissa. Otherwise, they wouldnt have also included the Chief of Police and the Township in the lawsuit as well. More people equals more chances for more money.

[Simply Red]

08:39 PM on 01/06/2012

It sounds like a STICKY situation.

[Simply Red]

08:35 PM on 01/06/2012

She's a gold digger that saw an opportunity to sue. She probably come on to the cop to get out of paying the ticket. Who knows unless he had her on his camera and microphone when he pulled her over. That sort of behavior is why they have such devices on their cars and or motorcycles. I say she's a damn gold digger that needs to be proven wrong and charges filed against her.

[John Bear]

06:37 PM on 01/06/2012

Maybe she's got a jelous boyfriend and she doesn't need that kind of attention!!? or Maybe that cop is ugly and married?
Act #1 he gave her a ticket
Act #2 He left a note

[RJCA]

12:04 PM on 01/07/2012

John, I’d have to disagree with your validation for taking a situation like this to court; and I believe a reasonable person would agree.

Having a jealous boyfriend is not a reason for a woman to sue a man who asks her out on a date.

Not wanting or needing that sort of attention is not a reason to sue a man who asks her out on a date.

That a man is ugly is not a reason for a woman to sue him if he asks her out on a date.

That a man is married is not a reason for a woman to sue him if he asks her out on a date (though, I would greatly disagree with it).

Further, there are not two acts; the exemptions article of the state statute disqualifies the ticket incident, as the cop was acting in an official capacity. Unless there are other incidents we have not been made privy to, the described situation does not meet the legal requirements for the offense and has no place on a court of law.

If bothered that much, she should have just reported it and let the proper administrative action be taken, but a lawsuit (based upon described details) is ridiculous and frivolous. It is a free country if they want to take it forward, but I would not feel any sympathy for them if they were made subject to any negative repercussions (ordered to pay all courts costs, counter-suit, etc).

[RJCA]

02:55 PM on 01/06/2012

They have no case. The state law for stalking (720 ILCS 5/12 7.3) requires “2 or more acts” (see definition of "course of conduct"). This guy left a note on her car once.

The lawsuit also states the cop “used his position as a police officer to manipulate her into going out with him”. From reading his note, which was actually rather self-depreciating, there was no attempt at manipulation. Maybe, if he had bargained to let her out of the ticket for a date the night before; but that didn’t happen.

All in all, this is the very definition of a frivolous lawsuit. She and her lawyer are suing the cop, the police chief, and the city, when the incident does not even meet the basic requirements needed for it to be a crime. Either her lawyer is incompetent and can’t read a state statute, or he just doesn’t care and hopes there is a chance they can make some quick money, without any chance of repercussions. Hopefully, the case is rightfully dismissed, she and her lawyer are charged with all court costs due to the frivolous nature of the suit, and the cop/chief/city counter-sue for defamation.

As far as the cop, if he really did use a DMV database to get her address, rather than remembering it, there are rules against that and he will most get in trouble, but hopefully not lose his job - not over something as stupid as this.

[John Bear]

06:41 PM on 01/06/2012

Act #1 He gave her a ticket
Act #2 He left a note

[Venus7]

03:10 AM on 01/07/2012

Act #3 Dollar sign flashed in her eyes

[RJCA]

09:36 AM on 01/07/2012

Interesting point counting the ticket incident; it could be what the lawyer is thinking, but then he still is not reading the statute correctly. The ticket incident would not count as he was acting in the performance of his duties; there was a legal basis for the interaction when he was giving her the ticket. Law Enforcement get an exemption to their actions, while in the performance of their duties, unless it’s shown their actions were criminal or intentionally negligent. The act of giving her a ticket was neither. Also, the statute itself also disqualifies the ticket interaction within its own exemptions article (monitoring concerning compliance with public laws). The ticket incident won't count.

[Sweenmeister]

12:35 PM on 01/06/2012

Once upon a time if you went to all that trouble to ask out a woman it was considered romantic. And once upon a time a woman would also just say "I'm flattered but no thanks." Now if he persists after that then he's stalking and that's a different story. But it does not seem like he did that here. He just left a note and did not try to intiate unwanted face to face contact. So instead of just say no she sues him, the police chief and the entire town? Really? What a wonderful use of our legal system and tax dollars to have to defend such a lawsuit! (lemme guess, her current beau is a lawyer). If this woman is so "traumatized" by someone going to such lengths to ask her out I think the officer is better off without her.

[John Bear]

06:46 PM on 01/06/2012

I think he should just stick to his job and leave the private sector private.
Stalking? Why did he give her a ticket? Just so he could leave a note!!!

[Simply Red]

08:36 PM on 01/06/2012

Don't make sense does it?

[crella]

11:23 PM on 01/07/2012

After 40+ years of feminist bullcrap about men being abusers, and living in a 'rape culture' women today run around afraid of their own shadows. Everything is 'traumatic'. My great-grandmother and grandmother would laugh their behinds off.

[Summer Cardwell]

10:57 AM on 01/06/2012

I would have been flattered, I think it was sweet and romantic!

[Gladiator6]

10:39 AM on 01/06/2012

There is no need for lawsuit, she should feel wanted, he was thinking of her for two days, what is so wrong to like somebody that bad, when you like somebody you use any means to reach your goal, yes he is a police officer using power, but he is also human he really likes this women enought to get him in trouble, she could just call and say no thank you, the story of love, he likes her, she hates him, why because of the ticket, or because the note came without flowers, there is the problem he should have sent flowers.

[John Bear]

12:51 PM on 01/07/2012

OHOooo Cripes Don't you sound easy!!!!

[TheRadHatter]

10:23 AM on 01/06/2012

This is ridiculous. He even says in the note that he "would understand if (she) didn't get in touch." SO why didn't she just let it be? Sure, he broke the law. At worst this is worthy of a short, unpaid suspension. But no. She is suing him and making a huge deal about it.

If she didn't respond, or told him no, and he continued to contact her...THEN it's a stalking situation. But an innocent note on a car? No. She is ridiculous.

[crella]

11:24 PM on 01/07/2012

I don't think he broke the law.

[NYCKid212]

08:12 AM on 01/06/2012

This Cop belongs on Stage5Creeper.com lol wow

[Simply Red]

08:37 PM on 01/06/2012

Cop should star on Reno 911

[Dueward]

05:41 AM on 01/06/2012

To me, the problem here is that he is a police officer. Police officers can develop an ego like no other and tend to thrive on the power that the position allows. Many a young man has gone in with the high hopes to "serve and protect" only to become one in the same. Most officers enjoy and expect that they can benefit from this "privileged" position. I mean no disrespect to law enforcement but we have allowed this. They commit violations of our rights every day that we just accept. I fear this and I certainly fear it for Eva.

[crella]

11:25 PM on 01/07/2012

Leaving a self-deprecating note on her windshield is hardly wielding power, is it?

[ElizabethO]

03:10 AM on 01/06/2012

Jeeze what a dumb dude. If he had a chance he blew it by giving her a ticket. He should have not given her a ticket and asked her out on the spot. Now, he has a lawsuit for being dumb.

[star1222]

12:32 PM on 01/06/2012

No, that would have been even dumber.... it could be construed as blackmail - "I won't give you a ticket if you go out with me." I would be more afraid of this approach than the one he actually did...

[Eva Paredes]

03:07 AM on 01/06/2012

Who say I am a greek american? I am a latino woman and proud to be.....Im sorry people but you dont know how things really happened and you are judging me without fundaments, thank you to all who are on my side...is all i can say...

[Simply Red]

08:44 PM on 01/06/2012

Latino women are HOT. He probably couldn't help himself. Vivila latino women.

[vevegarza]

12:49 AM on 01/07/2012

We all wish that was all you had to say. I am a latino woman also and you and i both know why you are really doing this. Pathetic.