A north suburban police officer was charged with two felonies for allegedly shoving a woman accused of DUI in the police station lock-up earlier this year, causing serious injuries to her face. Skokie Police officer Michael Hart, 43, was charged Wednesday with aggravated battery and official misconduct, both felonies, according to a statement from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.

Hart was assisting with fingerprinting and photographing 47-year-old Cassandra Feuerstein on the morning of March 10, after she was arrested earlier that morning for DUI, authorities said. During the booking process, Hart “became irate” with Feuerstein when she repeatedly refused to look at a specific location on a camera lens for him to take a booking photo, prosecutors allege.

Hart grabbed her “forcibly” by the arm and pulled her towards an open cell, where she tried to use both hands to grab the sides of the doorway, regain her balance and ask for another photo, prosecutors said. Hart then put both of his hands on her back and pushed her “forcefully” into the cell, prosecutors allege.

She was propelled across the cell, and her head slammed face-first into an unpadded concrete bench. Feuerstein suffered a fractured right orbital bone, loosened teeth, and a deep cut on her cheek. She required reconstructive surgery after the incident, including placement of a titanium plate in her cheek. Prosecutors say she still suffers vision and dental problems. […]