WGN staffer seeks $10 million after Midtown arrest

Debbie Brockman, a WGN staffer, has filed a $10 million claim against the federal government under the Federal Tort Claims Act after she says she was forcefully detained during “Operation Midway Blitz” in Lincoln Square in October—later released without charge

She was on her way to a bus stop for work when the day suddenly turned into a physical confrontation with armed, masked federal agents.

Debbie Brockman. a WGN staffer who worked for the station’s creative services department. filed a $10 million administrative claim against the federal government after she was detained and released without charges last October during “Operation Midway Blitz” in Lincoln Square. The claim was submitted against U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with Brockman seeking relief under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

Brockman. a United States citizen. says the arrest left her with headaches. pain. tenderness. contusions. anxiety and nausea. among other physical and emotional injuries. Her claim asserts causes including assault and battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

In a statement attached to the announcement of the claim Tuesday morning. Brockman said the reality of the encounter is hard to process. “It’s horrific that a government agency supposedly established to keep America safe is terrorizing communities. killing people. and violently targeting individuals they assume are not citizens. ” she said. “We are not safe with these armed. masked agents lurking in our neighborhoods showing little to no regard towards the lives of the people who live here.”.

According to the claim, Brockman was walking to a bus stop for work around 8:35 a.m. Oct. 10 when federal agents threw her to the ground, handcuffed her, and put her in a federal van. She says the arrest began in a chaotic moment involving nearby vehicles as agents prepared to leave the scene.

The claim describes video reviewed by the Sun-Times: a black SUV stopped diagonally in front of the agents’ silver Chrysler minivan as the agents were about to depart. The agents, Brockman alleges, did not drive around the SUV. Instead, an agent exited the van and walked up to the SUV, attempting to open its door. When that failed. the agents returned to the van and pulled away quickly. hitting the side of the SUV as the van sped away.

The sequence of events takes another turn in the claim’s account of what happened after agents began driving away. Brockman says the Homeland Security Department’s statement alleges that she “threw objects” at a Border Patrol car. Based on that assertion, agents arrested her for assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.

She was held in federal custody for seven hours and was released without charges, according to Brad Thompson, her lawyer.

In his statement Tuesday morning. Thompson said the episode reflects what he described as an escalation of force against people in the community. “The outrageous actions of the federal agents who attacked Ms. Brockman demonstrate that they believe they can terrorize our communities and snatch our neighbors off the streets with impunity. ” he said.

WGN Debbie Brockman Federal Tort Claims Act U.S. Customs and Border Protection Operation Midway Blitz Lincoln Square Homeland Security Department assault and battery false arrest false imprisonment