East Central Reporter

A lawsuit has been filed in Madison County Circuit Court against Collinsville Police Officer Giuseppe Michael Coppotelli. The suit, lodged on January 7, accuses Coppotelli of sexual battery and misconduct, alleging he coerced a citizen into non-consensual sexual acts by abusing his position of authority.

The legal action is brought under the 14th Amendment and the Illinois Gender Violence Act. It seeks damages for what it describes as an abuse of power. According to the plaintiff, Coppotelli stopped her while on duty in a marked K-9 police vehicle, questioning why she was walking without carrying a light—a requirement that does not exist legally.

The lawsuit claims that after conducting a search, Coppotelli fabricated finding a container of pills to coerce the plaintiff into sexual acts. Court documents quote him saying: “I’ll make you a deal. We can just throw those pills away, and you get in the car, and we go behind the Bingo Hall, take care of business, and you go home.”

The complaint further alleges that Coppotelli drove the plaintiff to a secluded area where he disrobed in his cruiser’s back seat and pressured her into performing oral sex before releasing her. The plaintiff asserts this incident followed two weeks of alleged stalking and harassment by Coppotelli.

“This case represents a gross abuse of authority,” said Thomas Maag, the plaintiff’s attorney. “The allegations speak for themselves, and we are confident they will be proven in court. It is unacceptable for those sworn to uphold the law to abuse their position of power, betraying public trust and preying on the most vulnerable members of society.”

The lawsuit demands damages exceeding $50,000 for each count and seeks an injunction preventing Coppotelli from contacting the plaintiff.

Attempts to reach Collinsville Mayor Jeff Stehman or Acting Chief of Police Brett Boerm for comments were unsuccessful.