… Middleton said when he arrived at the Bellwood Police station, instead of photographing his car, Det. Hernandez detained him for over seven hours and refused to explain the detention unless Middleton signed a document waiving his Miranda rights, which Middleton refused to do.

The lawsuit alleges Det. Hernandez eventually released Middletown without charges but refused to return his phone. Middleton’s lawsuit against Det. Hernandez and the villages claimed false arrest, unlawful detention, illegal seizure, conversion and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

In sworn testimony, Det. Hernandez acknowledged that the police were investigating three robberies that had occurred within an hour of each other and within a half-mile of each other. He said the modus operandi of the offender was similar in all three cases. The detective admitted, however, that Middleton was never investigated for the robberies. …