A police officer from suburban Chicago is being sued by a local woman, who claims that the officer issued her a speeding ticket for $132 that he then used to track her down and ask her for a date. She then says that the least he could do is buy her dinner after charging her such a high amount on the ticket.
The officer is from Stickney and the woman is Evangelina Paredes. Paredes said that Chris Collins violated her privacy by searching through motor vehicle records to find her address. Officer Collins then left Paredes a handwritten note on the windshield of her car outside of her apartment only two days after she received the ticket from Collins.
The lawsuit includes an attached copy of the note from Collins, which was filed in the United States District Court in Chicago last week. The letter opens with a shot at self-deprecating humor, ‘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,’ the letter says. ‘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 then says that Collins would understand completely if Paredes decided not to get in touch with him.
‘But hey,’ the letter says, ‘I did cost you $132 – least I can do is buy you dinner.’
Collins is 27 and he said that he has yet to hire an attorney so he could not comment on the letter or the lawsuit.
Paredes, according to the lawsuit, was pulled over by Officer Collins back on October 22, 2011 in Stickney. Stickney is a village located southwest of Chicago. The note was then found stuck to her vehicle in its parking lot next to the apartment complex where she lives.
‘The letter caused plaintiff to suffer great fear and anxiety,’ the lawsuit states. ‘Plaintiff could not believe that a police officer would use his access to her personal information to find her home and stalk her.’
The lawsuit seeks damages that are not specified and 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 police chief of Stickney’s Police Department, Joseph Kretch, is also named in the lawsuit along with the village of Stickney.
Kretch and Stickney Mayor Daniel O’Reilly did not offer comments regarding the lawsuit or the claim of invasion of privacy against Collins.
THIS IS RIDICULOUS! Chris Collins is my older brother and its sickening to me that a woman can go to the extent of ruining a good person’s life, because he hit on her? I know its impossible to give credability to to the person he is, but for her to ‘be in fear for her life’ IS A JOKE! Pretty unsettling that one person can make accusations, and her credability be acceptional! I thinking its self evident that this woman is out for the money and will ruin a life in the process..
THIS IS ABDOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! Chris Collins is my older brother, and in no way is he a threat or in any way the type of man to feel ‘great fear and anxiety’ over! This woman is a JOKE! He has never in my whole entire life of knowing him, done anything to be fearful of! He’s, if absolutely anything, a ladies man. He loves woman and that’s all! For this person to go to the lengths of destroying his credability, livelihood, and reputation as a police officer, is sad and unsettling. The fact that one person can do this much damage and be made a victim in something so harmless, is even more sad. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this person is doing this for MONEY! My brother is and has always been a very kind hearted person! He’s never had a hard time with woman! To me, someone who knows him inside and out, he is obviously trying to flatter and woo her! The media is a joke as well and will stop at nothing to get a good story.. It’s no wonder us women have such a bad reputation. We get hit on and have the nerve and power, even, to take an innocent harmless action from a person in the position of authority, and use it to get money and fame! This woman needs her head examined and her credability questioned, because shes ruining a life, set out to save stupid people like her! He did it when he served in the military and now he’s doing it as a police officer! I won’t be surprised in the least if this scares cops from protecting us without hesitations! You have ruined our justice system..
I cant believr a woman would b so petty to sue a man for this. There r plenty of women out there who would absolutely love a gesture like that. Some people r so ridiculous. What about women who have been truly violated and cant get the help they because?? Its all because of women like her!!
I agree!! Stupid! I find it quite romantic…and how did he have to “Access records” would her address not be on her drivers license? Facebook? People Search? This crazy woman is probably just pissed off she could not get out of the ticket. I dont know either of these people but I feel sorry for the poor officer!! Keep your head up Chris!!!!
Poor guy…guess he better stick to match.com – as a woman, I can see her “worry” that someone can just go and get your info since he has the power too but to make it this big is extreme – clearly digging for $$
In any event, what he did was wrong. Whether she should benefit financially is another issue that will be decided by the courts…..but really…..what did he expect?
Chris Collin, please ask me out on a date!!! I would be flattered to have you take me out for a nice dinner. Seriously, ask me on a date!!!!
Her address is a matter of public record. At least it is until her attorney realizes that anyone can get to it and decides to have it removed. There is nothing to indicate this officer used his position to get information any differently than anyone else. Does she feel stalked by every man who looks at her? He probably left the note so as NOT to scare her. He just took a chance, and had no idea that he would be humiliated and demonized…..just be cause he asked for a date. All she had to do was ignore it.
In 1966 a young, cute police officer pulled me over and said ” Ticket or a date”….and guess what? We have been married 43 years. Officer Collins does not deserve to be disciplined for this..
The media should be investigating the mayor Daniel o’rielly not this good cop. I’ve raised my family here and ever since this mayor took over the town went down hill. He hires his friends that are in his Lions club. Hes stealing money from the good people of Stickney and buying flowers from his flower shop in Berwyn. This village has had several law suits against them. This is Daniel Oriellys LAST year of being MAYOR for the Village of Stickney i will go house to house and make sure of that. He also terminated 3 PUBLIC WORKS Members for relatiation for them going UNION during the union prosess. The Media should linvestigate that story. I really hope these 3 members that were wrongfully terminated file a law suit again the village.
The media should be investigating the mayor Daniel o’rielly not this good cop. I’ve raised my family here and ever since this mayor took over the town went down hill. He hires his friends that are in his Lions club. Hes stealing money from the good people of Stickney and buying flowers from his flower shop in Berwyn. This village has had several law suits against them. This is Daniel Oriellys LAST year of being MAYOR for the Village of Stickney i will go house to house and make sure of that. He also terminated 3 PUBLIC WORKS Members for relatiation for them going UNION during the union prosess. The Media should linvestigate that story. I really hope these 3 members that were wrongfully terminated file a law suit again the village.
This cop is scary. He used his position as an officer to stalk & find this poor woman. He actually went to her apartment!
I hope he loses his job & they pay her everything she is asking for.
What a creep!!
Give the guy a break! All relationships start with someone taking a leap. I believe in love at first site as do my parents who have been so happily married for 58 years after meeting at a bar outside an Air Force base. A note on a car is far from a stalker. This story says nothing of the guy following her, reading her mail, or watching her. The address was likely on a carbon copy of his ticket book and so he decided to make a leap! I mean in my younger years, I’ve met a girl and could never stop thinking about her and wished there was a way at the time to find her because I had missed my opportunity due to my nerves. I think it’s very romantic. If the girl didn’t want to go then just toss the note. Or if she feels threatened report it to the Chief of Police. But a lawsuit? The note gives her an out. What is she thinking? This poor young cop just trying to find love actually unknowingly found an anxious psycho chick. That’s too bad.
Wow. What a b*tch! I pray this crazy lady will lose this lawsuit! And that all the cops will pay extra special attention to her and make sure to pull her over for every little thing! Uhg… She would have been lucky to go on a date with this man!