A former Round Lake Heights police officer, on Dec. 30, filed a federal lawsuit against the Village and the Village’s police chief, alleging that he was fired last summer after refusing the police chief’s advances.
According to the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Chicago, Hossein Isbitan was subjected to repeated advances made by police chief John Roehlk during his employment with the village. Roehlk allegedly phoned and texted Istiban a number of times and sent him gifts, besides making a number of inappropriate personal comments. On Valentine’s Day 2014, Roehlk allegedly texted a photo of a heart-shaped candy on which was inscribed, “I fucking love you.”
The harassment progressed to the point that Isbitan was uncomfortable using the police stations’s locker room facilities because of Roehlk’s presence.
In April, Roehlk invited Isbitan to the Chicago Cubs’ opening day game, according to the suit. When Istiban refused, Roehlk allegedly sent a text saying that he would stop trying to invite him into his “personal life.”
After that refusal, Roehlk allegedly became hostile and moody towards Isbitan, culminating with his firing in August. Isbitan also maintains that his job performance was exemplary and that his complaints to police and village officials about the matter went unheeded.
The lawsuit contains one count each of sexual discrimination and workplace harassment; wrongful termination; retaliation; equal protection; battery; and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The case will be heard by Judge Manish Shah.