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Geneva Police Dept

Montesanto Faces Trial for Strangling Woman in Custody

On July 23rd 2019, then-GPD officer Jack Montesanto strangled a woman at the Public Safety Building. The victim was in Montesanto’s custody when he attacked her, meaning she had no legal right to defend herself or ability to escape. She was brutalized by the very institution that claims to be responsible for her safety—and all of ours. 

The attack was witnessed by numerous police officers and recorded on police body camera footage. Chief Passalaqua had no choice but to report Montesanto. He was charged with an absurdly insufficient misdemeanor charge and was then offered a plea deal of 3 years probation and a surcharge. Montesanto rejected the offer, refusing to take responsibility for his actions.  

Montesanto not only felt free to strangle this woman on camera, in the public safety building, but he seems convinced that the system will excuse and condone what he did.  Because it so often does.

Tomorrow, more than two years later, Montesanto’s trial is finally scheduled to begin. We applaud the courage of Montesanto’s victim who, years later, is prepared to stand up and tell the truth about the violence she experienced at the hands of one more violent cop. Follow us here for the fighting feminist updates and analysis you won’t find in local media coverage.