North Chicago police put on leave in fatal arrest

North Chicago police put on leave in fatal arrest


Decision near on whether they will face discipline

By Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune reporter



10:51 PM CDT, April 24, 2012


The seven North Chicago police officers involved in the violent arrest of a man who died a week later have been placed on paid leave temporarily, the mayor announced Tuesday.

The officers — Tristan Borzick, Jason Geryol, Gary Grayer, Marc Keske, Arthur Strong, Brandon Yost and Sgt. Salvatore Cecala — had been on desk duty since shortly after the Nov. 13 death of Darrin Hanna, 45. Police had been called to Hanna's apartment over complaints that he was fighting with his pregnant girlfriend, who told authorities that Hanna tried to drown her in the bathtub, reports show.

Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. said the officers will remain on administrative leave until interim police Chief James Jackson announces a decision, expected Friday, on whether they will face disciplinary action in Hanna's death.

The Lake County coroner's office concluded that physical restraint and Taser shocks contributed to Hanna's death, as did cocaine abuse and other health problems.

The case has sparked protests and other allegations of police brutality, as well as an Illinois State Police investigation. Lake County prosecutors ruled that officers acted "reasonably and appropriately," but on Friday, theU.S. Department of Justice announced it is conducting a preliminary inquiry into the case.

Attorneys for six of the officers mounted their first public defense Monday, issuing a news release stating that Hanna's relatives and their attorneys have been allowed to "speculate and grossly misrepresent" the case.

The release, from the law firm of DeAno & Scarry, puts the incident in the context of Hanna's drug use, health problems and prior criminal record, including an outstanding arrest warrant for allegedly beating his girlfriend two weeks previously.

"Mr. Hanna chose to attack the officers and create his own demise," the release states. "...There are occasions when police officers do everything right, yet bad things can happen to the people they come into contact with."

An accompanying statement said, "North Chicago police saved the lives of (Hanna's girlfriend) and her unborn child and they acted appropriately when her cocaine-abusing assailant aggressively resisted arrest."

Attorney Laura Scarry said that the case has become "sensationalized" and that she is confident that the full evidence will exonerate the officers.

At a rally Monday, theRev. Jesse Jacksoncriticized the officers' leave as a "paid vacation." Numerous federal lawsuits against the city show a pattern of the same officers using excessive force, Jackson said.

He urged about 200 people at a meeting in First Corinthian Church in North Chicago to go to City Hall on Friday and bring their sleeping bags.

"We plan to stay until reasonable justice has been done," he said.

After previous protests, former North Chicago Police Chief Mike Newsome had been placed on administrative leave in the case before resigning last month.

The disciplinary decision on the remaining officers was delayed, the mayor said, after an audio recording of police communications surfaced with Hanna pleading with police. Retired Illinois State Police Col. Robert Johnson, hired by the city as an independent investigator, reinterviewed the officers last week about the recording.

The mayor said he also sent a letter Monday to the Justice Department, offering full cooperation in the inquiry.

Freelance reporter Susan Berger contributed.

rmccoppin@tribune.com


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-north-chicago-cops-on-leave-20120425,0,7518307.story

Editor's note: It should be remembered that the present Lake County IL Coroner is an ex-police chief.  Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com