North Chicago police disciplined over beating
Darrin Hanna’s death sparked protests and led to several investigations, most recently a federal inquiry being handled by the U.S. attorney’s office in Chicago.
A group of officers responding to a call saying Hanna was holding his pregnant girlfriend against her will and threatening to drown her in a bathtub punched the 45-year-old man and shocked him with a stun gun.
The Lake County coroner has ruled that several factors contributed to Hanna’s death, including chronic cocaine abuse, high blood pressure, kidney problems and sickle cell trait, as well as physical restraint and stun gun shocks. Last month, Lake County prosecutors said the officers acted “reasonably” and wouldn’t be charged.
The outcry has failed to diminish, as the Rev. Jesse Jackson and others continue to condemn Hanna’s treatment in custody. New evidence has been made public, and the preliminary federal inquiry will determine whether a formal investigation is needed.
Police chief James Jackson said he decided on disciplinary action after reviewing several independent investigations, including by the Illinois State Police’s Public Integrity Unit. He said he also looked over all available documents, audio recordings, photographs and witness statements.
Among the new evidence to emerge are police recordings from the scene in which Hanna can be heard pleading, “Put me down, please, I was down,” while an officer tells him, “You are OK ... relax.”
Attorneys for Hanna’s family have sued the city and argue the recordings show Hanna cooperated during the arrest.
Officer Brandon Yost, a six-year veteran, was fired Friday. The other officer, Arthur Strong, on the force for seven years, was suspended for 30 days without pay. The other four officers and one supervisor involved have returned to their regular duties after being placed on paid leave earlier this week.
In a report on the arrest released Friday, Jackson noted that the officers were confronted with “a highly volatile situation” when they responded to the Nov. 6 call and had reason to believe Hanna would be violent when confronted.
“It is the responsibility of members of the North Chicago Police Department to use only the amount of force necessary,” Jackson said. “... When officers violate our policies and our rules and regulations, it’s my job to make sure they’re held accountable. Today’s action should demonstrate quite clearly our commitment to holding officers accountable.”