North Chicago fired one police officer and suspended another today
for their roles in the violent arrest of a man who died a week after he was
taken into custody.
Officials immediately dismissed Officer Brandon Yost and suspended
Officer Arthur Strong for 30 days without pay. Four other officers and one
sergeant involved in the arrest who had been temporarily placed on desk duty
were returned to regular duties without penalty.
The action comes in the case of Darrin
"Dagwood" Hanna, 45, who was arrested Nov. 6 in his North Chicago apartment,
where police said he slapped and tried to drown his pregnant girlfriend. He died
in a hospital of multiple factors, according to the Lake County Coroner,
including physical restraint and Taser shocks, as well as chronic cocaine abuse,
hypertension,
kidney
disease and sickle
cell disease.
His death prompted a public uproar, which led to an investigation
by Illinois State Police. The Lake County State's Attorney's office concluded
officers committed no crime, saying they acted "reasonably and appropriately" to
subdue a large man police said rushed them with clenched fists yelling, "Shoot
me."
Yost was fired for repeatedly punching Hanna in the face, which
was unnecessary force, and for an unspecified falsification of reports on the
incident, interim Chief James Jackson said. Strong's reported use of force,
kneeling on the back of Hanna's legs, was considered acceptable, but he was
disciplined for falsifying a report by indicating Hanna was swinging a
flashlight.
Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. and Jackson
made the announcement at a news conference at North Chicago
City Hall, where a crowd of protesters led by civil rights leader Jesse
Jackson greeted the news angrily. People in the crowd yelled "cover up" and
chanted, "murderers."
"These six officers should be fired and charged with murder,"
Jackson said.
TheU.S. Department of Justiceis conducting a preliminary inquiry
into the case, which is a step short of a full investigation.
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