Chicago’s law department is pushing aldermen to sign off on a $22 million settlement for the family of a 25-year-old man killed during a police chase on the West Side, a payout that would largely fall to city taxpayers once insurance kicks in.
City Lawyers Recommend $22 Million Settlement
In a court filing tied to the estate of Angel Eduardo Alvarez Montesinos, city attorneys urged approval of the settlement and noted that the city’s insurance would cover about $2 million of the total, with the rest coming from Chicago’s budget, according to the Chicago Tribune. The City Council’s Finance Committee is set to take up the recommendation on Wednesday, a key step before the full council votes.
The Crash On The West Side
The deadly crash happened in June 2023 at South Independence Boulevard and Roosevelt Road, when a stolen Hyundai driven by a juvenile sped through red lights and slammed into multiple vehicles, killing Montesinos at the scene. Initial police statements and early coverage described the fleeing vehicle racing through several intersections at high speed before the teen driver was taken into custody, reporting from the Chicago Sun-Times shows.
Lawsuit Alleges Officers Broke Chase Rules
The lawsuit filed by the estate names three officers, Erik Arroyo, Carolyn La Placa and Michael Spilotro III, and claims they pursued the stolen car in violation of Chicago Police Department policies that are supposed to limit risky chases, according to public records and reporting. Investigative summaries describe problems that include failing to notify dispatch, not using lights or sirens and not activating body-worn cameras during the pursuit, conditions that reporting says raised the danger for other drivers. Local coverage by Unraveled Press reviewed those materials.
City's Costs And Related Payouts
City filings in the case state the fleeing Hyundai hit speeds close to 90 miles per hour and confirm that Chicago’s catastrophic-insurance policy is expected to contribute about $2 million, leaving the bulk of the $22 million settlement to be covered by the city itself, according to the Chicago Tribune. The same set of filings notes that the estate has also sued the juvenile driver, identified as Martin Shuntrel, along with his parents. Aldermen are being asked to weigh the $22 million proposal alongside an $875,000 settlement in a separate case brought by Black Lives Matter protesters who allege police used unconstitutional tactics during demonstrations.
Why This Matters Now
If approved, the payout would join a growing list of costly, police-related settlements that have put serious pressure on Chicago’s finances and kept the city’s pursuit policies in the spotlight. Local reporting and analyses have documented that Chicago has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years on claims tied to police conduct. For broader context on those costs, see reporting from WTTW.
Legal Implications
The estate’s lawsuit seeks wrongful-death damages and, by naming both city officers and the teen driver and his parents, attempts to spread potential liability among multiple defendants. Findings from the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, as described in local reporting, could be used to argue that officers strayed from chase protocols, strengthening the estate’s civil case, according to Unraveled Press. Criminal proceedings were also brought against the juvenile driver after the crash, contemporaneous coverage by the Chicago Sun-Times shows.
