Slain Puerto Ricans’ Kin Sue for $48 Million

The survivors of two Puerto Ricans killed in the June 4 riot in Humboldt Park filed two federal suits Thursday seeking a total of $48 million in damages from city and police officials..

The suits charge there was a “police riot” and that “the illegal actions of police resulted in the outright murder of two innocent young Puerto Rican men who were picknicking in the park with their families.”

Peter Schmiedel, the attorney representing the families of the two, Raphael Cruz and Julio Osorio, also charged that a document assessing the rioting, released by the Police Supt. James Rochford, was “a reprehensible slander and a fraud.”

Rochford blamed gangs and community hostillity for the weekend rioting that left three dead and more than 100 injured. Schmiedel described the Rochford report as part of a cover-up by police and city officials.

Named in both suits are Rochford, Mayor Bilandic, Wood Street Commander Aurelio Garcia, Sgt. Thomas Walton, Patrolman Robinson Urbane, and three other unnamed police officers.

The suits allege that police were questioning and harassing people in the park apparently as a result of a bombing of the COunty Building earlier June 4. They Charge that the police “behaved in an insulting, intimidating manner, causing a good deal of anger and tension among people in the park.”

Meanwhile Thursday, Tom Ramos, president of the Latin American Police Association, which includes 170 Chicago police officers, said the group is “100 per cent behind” Rochford. He blamed the disorder on “a small group of intoxicated young adults, some of whom were under the influence of drugs.”