On Thursday, an Evanston mother shared her frustration about not knowing why her daughter ended up in the hospital in a coma.
"She can't do nothing. She is just staring. She has no awareness," Jacqueline Hoffman said. "Days, my daughter and I go to see her, and to see her in that state is heart rendering."
Hoffman's daughter is Felicea Williams. Hoffman said postpartum depression for Williams years ago led to more serious mental health issues and more recently drug use.
As Hoffman tried to get her adult daughter help, police called to tell her Williams was in the hospital after an incident Jan. 5.
Hoffman saw photos of Williams in a hospital. The attorney for the family, Victor Henderson, says he tried to get more information. He says he got nothing until he filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the city of Evanston, alleging a violation of the Freedom of Information Act.
"The pictures seem to suggest excessive use of force, but we will have to see," Henderson said.
Henderson says he just received some documents from Evanston Thursday morning.
"We shouldn't have to jump through 9,000 hoops to just tell the truth," Henderson said.
An Evanston spokesperson declined any interviews, but alleges Williams was injured in an altercation at a bar on Howard Street Jan. 5, and she was bleeding trying to get into a passing car and not responding to officers.
A statement for the city of Evanston read in part, "As officers attempted to detain her, Williams spat blood and saliva into an officer's mouth and attempted to bite the officer's ungloved hand. Officers then attempted to place her under arrest, but she resisted, and officers used force to take her into custody."
The attorney shared video from Evanston of a police body-worn camera. The video shows part of the encounter with Williams.
In it, an officer was heard saying, "don't bite me." Several officers held her down. But at the time she was talking and breathing. Something dark was placed on her head a few minutes later, and then something white was on her head.
ABC7 was told by the Evanston spokesperson the officers involved were put on leave, which is their standard procedure. An internal investigation found use of force was justified, and the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force was notified.
Additionally, ABC7 was told Williams has been charged with three counts of aggravated battery to a police officer.
Meanwhile the attorney for Williams' family says they are going through the documents and looking for more information about what happened to Williams.