Fremd student's lawsuit claims assistant principal, police used excessive force

An 18-year-old Fremd High School student filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday claiming a Fremd assistant principal and police consultant tackled him unprovoked and caused “severe” injuries.

Fremd Assistant Principal Eric Wenckowski and Palatine police officer David Bloomfield, a Fremd police consultant, needlessly used excessive force against Jonathan Onystok, then a junior, according to the lawsuit.

Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 also is listed as a defendant in the suit, which alleges district officials are negligent by failing to offer proper employee training.

“Everyone understands the need to maintain the safety of the school, but in this case there was no one threatened, no one endangered,” said Onystok's attorney James Karamanis. “The child was basically only going about his business and going to class when he was singled out and then treated with violence without justification.”

District 211 Superintendent Nancy Robb reviewed the lawsuit Tuesday evening.

“As a district, we are responsible for the safety and well-being of all of our students,” Robb said. “In light of this responsibility, we view this matter differently.”

The incident happened March 19 inside the Palatine school, according to the 14-page lawsuit filed at U.S. District Court in Chicago.

Onystok claims that when he refused to follow Wenckowski to his office, the assistant principal grabbed his wrists and pushed him over a chair. As Onystok stood up, Wenckowski tackled him, the lawsuit also alleges.

Bloomfield then joined in, according to the lawsuit, and jumped on Onystok's back to handcuff him.

Karamanis said the staff unfairly isolated and targeted him due to his friendship with a “previously suspect” student. Onystok's parents support their son in filing the lawsuit, Karamanis added.

“They are equally as outraged, they back him fully,” he said.

Onystok, now a Fremd senior, plans on graduating this year, Karamanis said. Although the lawsuit states the injuries were “severe” and “permanent,” Karamanis would not specify the extent of the harm.

The lawsuit asks for undisclosed punitive damages and costs, plus whatever the court rules as just.

Karamanis said his client believes District 211 officials didn't offer the “proper respect” when reviewing the matter.

Part of Wenckowski's responsibilities includes serving as the school's lead disciplinarian, according to Fremd's website. A police consultant — like Bloomfield — is stationed at each of District 211's schools, where they counsel students in legal trouble and refer discipline matters to school administration.