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Ongoing Concerns Over Law Enforcement Practices in Sangamon County
In July 2023, Sonya Massey dialed 911 from her Illinois residence to report a suspected prowler lurking outside her home. A distressing turn of events unfolded when deputy Sean Grayson, a white officer from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, arrived at the scene. Within two minutes, he fatally shot Massey, a Black woman, in her kitchen, citing feelings of threat as the basis for his actions. Following the incident, Grayson was dismissed from his position and faced murder charges, to which he pleaded not guilty and is currently awaiting trial.
Former Sheriff Jack Campbell described the shooting as an isolated event, labeling Grayson as a “rogue individual” who overstepped his authority. However, a CBS News investigation has uncovered a troubling history of alleged misconduct within the sheriff’s office, revealing a pattern of behavior that includes numerous allegations spanning two decades. This troubling record includes at least eight deaths involving detainees under the care of Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputies and corrections officers, in addition to Massey’s tragic case.
Among the notable cases is that of Jaimeson Cody, who died in 2021 after being arrested for aggravated domestic battery. Reports indicate that when correction officers attempted to relocate him within the jail, he resisted. During the altercation, a solitary officer weighing over 300 pounds reportedly sat on Cody’s back, resulting in broken ribs. Cody was pronounced dead a day later. His family contends he succumbed to positional asphyxia, a condition attributed to compromised breathing due to body position, which they classify as a homicide. “This is our son that we lost that we’ll never have,” lamented Cindy Cody, his stepmother.
Despite the gravity of these allegations, none of the officers implicated in the aforementioned deaths or other claims of misconduct have faced criminal charges. The sheriff’s office and involved personnel have consistently denied any wrongdoing, even in instances where civil suits have resulted in settlements by the county.
The case of Starla Smith’s son, Dylan Schlieper Clark, adds another layer to the unfolding narrative. After being booked in 2022 on drug possession charges, Clark reportedly died from a treatable staph infection. According to Smith, jail officials neglected to address her son’s complaints of pain and failed to secure necessary medical assistance for five hours, even as he exhibited severe distress, which was captured in surveillance footage. Smith claims medical professionals indicated that earlier intervention might have saved her son’s life. “I can’t move on until there’s some kind of justice,” she expressed, as a wrongful death suit initiated by Clark’s family remains pending.
In light of these revelations, CBS News presented a series of 50 misconduct complaints to the current sheriff, Paula Crouch, who took office following public outcry after Massey’s death. The complaints included infringements on due process, excessive use of tasers, and severe allegations such as rape of individuals seeking assistance from law enforcement. Each of these claims has been dismissed by the sheriff’s office.
When questioned about potential issues within the sheriff’s office, Crouch remarked, “I don’t think that the sheriff’s office has a policing problem. Do you run into bad employees? Probably every agency has had those people.” Having primarily built her career at the Springfield Police Department, Crouch was appointed sheriff in September 2024 after Campbell’s resignation triggered by the fallout from Massey’s fatal encounter with law enforcement.
Family members of the victims, such as Massey’s cousin Sontae, continue to feel the effects of these tragic events. “I would say to the new sheriff, be a rebel. There’s nowhere to go from here but up,” Sontae advised, emphasizing the need for change.
In a move towards accountability, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office has consented to oversight by the U.S. Justice Department for a two-year period, although the future of this agreement remains uncertain. The status of civil rights agreements established under the previous administration is now under scrutiny from authorities associated with President Trump.
Source
www.cbsnews.com