User:Wikiuserdude/sandbox

Jonathan "Jon" Daniel is a short order cook from Peoria, Illinois who gained prominence when his home was raided by police over a Twitter account that parodied Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis.

The @peoriamayor account portrayed Ardis as a foulmouthed drug user and womanizer, similar to the @MayorEmanuel account created by Dan Sinker that parodied Chicago's Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The @peoriamayor account was created in March 2014, and labeled parody several days after its creation. The account was suspended several weeks prior to the home raid, and had amassed about 50 followers.

Emails show the investigation was requested of the former police chief Steve Settingsgaard by Ardis personally. Initially Settingsgaard told Ardis, "This phony Twitter account does not constitute a criminal violation in that no threats are made." Judges later signed off on multiple warrants on the charge of "false personation of a public official." Daniel's home was raided April 15, 2014. Three people from the home were brought in for police questioning. Daniel and another roommate were picked up by police at their places of employment. One of Daniel's roommates was charged with marijuana possession. Daniel was released without charges.

In Daniel v. Peoria et al, Daniel and the American Civil Liberties Union sued the mayor, members of the police department, and the city, claiming his First and Fourth Amendment rights were violated. On September 8, 2015, the Peoria City Council approved a settlement in a 10-1 vote, with $125,000 being awarded to Daniel.