Sangamon County, Illinois – On September 22, 2024 at 11:49 p.m., Deputies from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to an alarm at Hall’s Cycles, located at 3801 N. Dirksen Parkway in Springfield.

Upon arrival, Deputies discovered the front door to the business damaged and ajar. A witness provided a description of a suspicious vehicle, a white Dodge Ram truck, occupied by at least two subjects on the property at the approximate time the Sheriff’s Office was notified.

The business owner arrived on scene and reported several motorcycles stolen, with an estimated value of $45,000.00.

At 1:48 am, Deputies observed a white Dodge ram truck with a motorcycle in the open bed, traveling east in the 2900 block of Sangamon Avenue in Springfield. Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle numerous times, however the driver refused to stop. While deputies were following the vehicle, the occupants were throwing items, including a tire and tools, from the truck, possibly trying to disable deputies’ vehicles.

The vehicle eventually fled southbound on 1-55 and left Sangamon County, into the rural area of Madison County. The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office received assistance from various other law enforcement agencies in the area.

At some point in the pursuit, deputies lost visual contact with the fleeing truck, and were only able to follow the truck’s taillights. While following the truck’s path of travel, deputies located a male
subject lying next to the roadway. Deputies discontinued the pursuit, and stopped to render aid while awaiting requested medical personnel to respond.

The male, a 43-year-old from the Kansas City Missouri area, was airlifted to a St. Louis area hospital with serious injuries.

At approximately 9:30am on the morning of September 23rd, the Dodge Ram was located in Livingston, Illinois, by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

After further investigation, Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office Detectives discovered the Dodge Ram was stolen from the state of Kansas and had altered license plates. Detectives also recovered firearms from inside the stolen vehicle.

On September 25, 2024, Sangamon County Sheriff’s office was notified that the male subject who was found on the side of the roadway had suffered non-survivable injuries. At that time, Illinois State Police was contacted to assist in this investigation.

A Sangamon County Sergeant and Deputy were placed on administrative leave during this investigation.

This incident remains under investigation by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Police.

Stay tuned for further updates.

Springfield, Illinois — A former Springfield police officer, whose FOID card had been suspended for months while he was still a patrol officer, has been indicted on drug charges. This follows his resignation from the Springfield Police Department after a positive marijuana test and accusations from his live-in girlfriend of selling marijuana and using steroids.

On July 23, 2024, the Springfield Police Department received a complaint from an anonymous officer stating that Springfield Police Officer Clayton J. Hadley, age 29, was using and possibly selling cannabis. According to the complaint, the anonymous officer approached a supervisor seeking guidance on how to handle another officer (Hadley) who might be breaking the law. The anonymous officer reported being aware of a Snapchat video that showed Officer Hadley removing cannabis from a “brick” of it and repackaging it into smaller baggies. The anonymous officer claimed they had seen the Snapchat video a week before reporting it and that it was shown to them by a third party, though they did not have the video saved.

The supervisor, who filed the complaint on behalf of the anonymous officer, stated that it was known among several officers that Officer Hadley was using cannabis. As a result, Officer Hadley was ordered to undergo a “just cause” drug test. According to Chief of Field Operations Andrew Dodd, when Officer Hadley was served with drug test and administrative leave paperwork, he admitted to using marijuana on his days off.

Eight days later, On July 31, 2024, Officer Hadley, who had been with the Springfield Police Department since June 28, 2021, was informed that Internal Affairs was opening an investigation. According to Lieutenant Jason Brands, who was assigned as the Internal Affairs investigator, when he served Officer Hadley with a letter advising him that an investigation had been opened, Officer Hadley asked about the process moving forward and mentioned that he had already admitted to SPD staff that he uses cannabis. Later, that day, around 7:26 p.m., the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department was called to the 2700 block of Queensway Rd., in Springfield, Illinois.

According to the Sheriff’s Department, dispatch informed them that Hadley was in a verbal argument with his girlfriend. He had punched the fridge, screamed in her face, thrown water, and told her to leave the house. A deputy noted that, while responding to the residence, they learned Hadley was on disciplinary administrative leave from the Springfield Police Department. Due to the circumstances and conflict of interest, the Springfield Police Department requested the Sheriff’s Office handle the call.

Deputies reported that upon arriving at the scene and making contact with Hadley’s girlfriend at the front door, they observed that she was crying and visibly upset. While speaking to Hadley’s girlfriend, deputies were informed that Hadley had access to several firearms in the basement, was alleged to be suicidal, and had made statements about wanting to kill himself. According to her statement, she reported that “she and Hadley have been dating and that she lives at the residence with him.” She explained that Hadley had been suspended from the Springfield Police Department due to someone ‘snitching’ on him for smoking weed, which happened because someone posted a picture of him on social media. He was tested, and the results came back positive for marijuana. There were also claims that he used cocaine and steroids. Hadley initially suspected his girlfriend of posting him on social media, but she denied it, claiming she was too smart to post pictures of him using cocaine. She further stated that Hadley does not have a prescription for steroids and buys them from someone at his gym. Hadley’s girlfriend told deputies that although nothing physical occurred during their recent argument, Hadley had been physical with her within the last month. She also expressed concern, saying that if Hadley “were to be cleared to go back to work, he would hurt somebody.”

The Sheriff’s Department then contacted Memorial Behavioral Health and requested that they respond to the scene to speak with Hadley, who stated that he was stressed and emotionally exhausted from work and being on administrative leave. After speaking with Memorial Behavioral Health, it was determined that he would be involuntarily committed to the hospital due to suicidal statements. Hadley was transported to the hospital by Springfield police, with a Sheriff’s deputy following behind to assist.

After Hadley left the house, deputies contacted the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office to determine how to handle the firearms left in the residence. Records indicated that Hadley’s girlfriend had a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification Card (FOID), while Hadley’s FOID card had been suspended since October 2023 due to an order of protection filed against him by another woman with whom he has a child. The State’s Attorney’s Office advised that since Hadley’s girlfriend did not wish to stay at the residence and given Hadley’s suspended FOID card, if she consented, deputies should take the firearms for safekeeping. She granted this consent and opened two gun safes located in the basement.

Deputies reported observing numerous firearms and vials of what appeared to be testosterone (a steroid) in a pocket on the inside of the safe door. Hadley’s girlfriend then restated that Hadley does not possess a valid prescription for the steroids. One deputy also noted seeing what appeared to be a jar containing marijuana in a closet adjacent to the two safes.

Deputies said Hadley’s girlfriend mentioned there might also be firearms in an unattached garage and gave them permission to search through totes. While searching, they found several large bags that appeared to contain cannabis. One deputy reported, ‘I looked inside a second container and saw a white trash bag. Inside it, I found what looked like three vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana.’ Another deputy noted that Hadley’s girlfriend mentioned Hadley sells weed. When she overheard the deputies asking about scales, she said Hadley gets the marijuana pre-packaged and pre-weighed. She also mentioned that Hadley uses only his cell phone for these transactions, not a computer or other devices. Additionally, she said Hadley has been using steroids for the past two years without breaks.

It was then determined that a search warrant would be required to collect the suspected narcotics. At approximately 12:12 a.m. on August 1, a Sangamon County judge signed the warrant.

During the execution of the search warrant, the following items were found: 13 vials of testosterone that appeared to be full, 18 vials of testosterone that appeared to be mostly empty, 6 jars of cannabis butter, $5,670 in U.S. currency, 6 jars of suspected cannabis wax, 2 suspected cannabis pipes, 1 suspected wooden dugout one-hitter, 1 live resin THC vape pen, and 3 large vacuum-sealed bags of cannabis flower. The bags were later weighed and measured approximately 19 ounces, 19 ounces, and 17 ounces, respectively. The marijuana was then removed from the bags and jars, with a total weight of approximately 3.18 pounds (51 ounces).

Additional items collected included a Glock 43x 9mm pistol, an FN Herstal 5.7×28 caliber pistol, an Ithaca 37 Featherlight 20-gauge shotgun, a French Affinity 3.6 12-gauge shotgun, a Raptor 12-gauge shotgun, a Winchester 94 .30-30 lever-action rifle, a Bushmaster XM 15-E24 .223 rifle, a Black Rain Ordinance Spec15 rifle, a Rossi RS22 .22 caliber rifle, a Pickett’s Mill Armory PMA 14 rifle, 2 Glock magazines, a Glock plastic bag, an ammo can containing .223 ammunition, an ammo can containing .556 ammunition, 21 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a bag of various unloaded firearm magazines, approximately 250 12-gauge shotgun shells, and a bag of various shotgun shells and ammunition.

Springfield Police Chief Ken Scarlette discusses the case with Illinois Times reporter Scott Reeder:

Springfield Police Chief Ken Scarlette spoke with Illinois Times (IT) reporter Scott Reeder about the investigation and the questions surrounding how a Springfield police officer could have a suspended FOID card yet remain with the department. Chief Scarlette explained, “His department was aware of the order of protection and assigned Hadley to restricted duty—without a gun or badge—during the period it was in place. When the order of protection expired, he returned to his normal duties,” the chief said.

However, Scarlette noted that no one within the department’s leadership was aware that Hadley’s FOID card remained under suspension. In fact, he said it was not until a reporter inquired about the suspension that inquiries were made to the Illinois State Police, and he learned that Hadley’s FOID card was indeed suspended.

“If you had a secondary weapon, a backup weapon, or if you just own shotguns or whatnot, obviously you’d have to have a FOID card, but FOID cards are not mandated in the state of Illinois for law enforcement officers,” Scarlette said.

However, although Chief Scarlette stated that law enforcement officers are not mandated to have a FOID card, according to Illinois law, law enforcement officials in the state of Illinois are exempt from needing a FOID card only “while engaged in the performance of their official duties.”

Chief Scarlette informed IT Reporter Reeder that following the domestic call at Hadley’s residence, Hadley spent several days in a local hospital, which delayed the department’s ability to serve him with paperwork notifying him that his dismissal would be sought. “We had no access to him until the 2nd of August. That’s when we intended to serve him. … (But) he indicated through his union president that he was resigning,” he said.

Springfield Leaks obtained a copy of an email sent from Hadley’s girlfriend’s account to Tamara Russell, the Union President of the Springfield Police Department. The email read: “Good morning Tami. I, Officer Hadley 833, would like to resign from the Springfield Police Department effective immediately as of today, 8/2/2024. Thank you, and have a good day.”

Due to Hadley’s resignation, he was not able to be interviewed by Internal Affairs, and a professional conduct report was sent to the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board to seek Hadley’s decertification as a police officer. Chief Scarlette told IT Reporter Reeder, “We certainly did our due diligence on our end to say, ‘I don’t want this guy to ever be a cop anywhere again.'”

Additionally, Chief Scarlette noted that although marijuana is legal in Illinois, the police department’s policy prohibits officers from imbibing.

What led to the suspension of Hadley’s FOID card?

Springfield Leaks was able to track down the order of protection, which was issued against Hadley in Menard County on October 16, 2023. This order, which resulted in Hadley’s FOID card being suspended, was filed by Hadley’s ex-girlfriend, with whom he has a child. According to her, in 2021, Hadley kicked her out of their house—where she was on the lease—for “no apparent reason” while their child was just one month old. She reported that the police were called because he was confronting her sister.

The ex-girlfriend described a second incident that occurred in 2022 while Hadley was employed with the Springfield Police Department. She stated that they had made a co-parenting agreement not to have other men or women around their child, which he broke several times, having “these women watch their child so he could go hunt, etc.” She reported that he had three women watch their child and that he had threatened to come to Petersburg or Greenview, saying that the cops wouldn’t stop him.

The last incident she reported occurred on October 13, 2023. Hadley’s ex-girlfriend said that he asked her to meet him halfway at a location, and when they both arrived, he started telling her that she could start paying for daycare by herself and that he was going to take her car. She stated that she asked him to get into his truck twice, but he continued to yell and pushed her, which she said she caught herself from falling. She said that when she got into her car to check on her child, she called Menard/Sangamon and spoke to a deputy, leaving a report. She noted that her child, who was present at the time, said, “Dada push mama.”

Following the order of protection issued against Hadley, a parenting agreement was established on October 30, 2023, leading to an agreement to split daycare costs, a stipulation that no male or female acquaintances could be around the child without prior discussion, and the dismissal of the order of protection. However, although the order was dismissed, Chief Scarlette told IT Reporter Reeder, “Hadley apparently never took action to have his FOID card reinstated after it was automatically suspended due to the temporary order of protection issued against him.”

Previous Internal Affairs complaints against Hadley:

According to previous internal affairs complaints against Hadley, he was reprimanded for using his dinner break to leave work early. On August 22, 2023, Hadley took his dinner break at 5:48 p.m. and turned in the keys to his patrol vehicle at 5:55 p.m., leaving work before his scheduled shift end time of 7:00 p.m. He was then called on the radio and asked to come to the station at 6:15 p.m. When he arrived, he was not in uniform or prepared for work. His supervisor noted that he should be prepared to handle calls even during his dinner break, as he could be called back at any time by a supervisor or for high-priority calls.

On April 23, 2024, he received another reprimand for escalating a tense situation by engaging with two subjects who were unhappy with an arrest. The written reprimand given to Hadley stated:

“On April 11, 2024, you responded to assist officers in the 1100 Block of Virginia regarding a suspect resisting arrest and officers requesting assistance. Upon arrival on scene, several officers were already attempting to get the suspect into the rear of the transport van. Also present were associates of the suspect who were voicing their displeasure with the situation. While standing by, you escalated an already tense situation by engaging two subjects who were unhappy with the arrest. Another officer attempted to diffuse the situation by stepping in front of you; however, you re-engaged by stating that you weren’t worried about the male subject engaging you. You proceeded to make a hand gesture off camera and called him a ‘little boy’ several times, which undoubtedly escalated the situation. Shortly after that interaction, you went to assist officers struggling with the suspect at the rear of the transport van. You entered the rear of the van and were pulling the suspect into the seat. While in the process of moving the suspect, you engaged him in an unprofessional manner, also calling him ‘boy’ several times, and made no attempt to de-escalate the situation.

Due to your actions during this incident, it has been determined that you failed to comply with Springfield Police Department Rule #18, Courtesy and Image. In addition to this written reprimand, you have been scheduled to attend the course: Non-Escalation & De-Escalation Scenario-Based Training on July 11th in Jerseyville, IL.”

Yesterday, Hadley was indicted by a Sangamon County Grand Jury for possession of cannabis, a Class 3 felony, and possession of a controlled substance, a Class C misdemeanor. Hadley was issued a summons to appear in court on October 10, 2024; however, his attorney has requested a change of date.

Springfield, Illinois – A Springfield Police Sergeant, who was supposed to be celebrating his retirement on Friday, September 6, 2024, has been charged with Aggravated DUI after causing a motorcycle crash on the evening of September 5th, around 9:20 p.m., on East Lake Shore Drive.

Today, the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office has charged Michael A. Egan with Aggravated D.U.I, a class 4 felony. He is currently in the Sangamon County Jail.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE – Now-Retired SPD Sergeant Suspected Of Being Drunk Accused of Receiving Special Treatment After Crash Injures Two Motorcyclist

Stay tuned to this story for updates.

Springfield, Illinois – A Springfield Police Sergeant, who was supposed to be celebrating his retirement on Friday, September 6, 2024, has been charged with Aggravated DUI after causing a motorcycle crash on the evening of September 5th, around 9:20 p.m., on East Lake Shore Drive.

Today, the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office has charged Michael A. Egan with Aggravated D.U.I, a class 4 felony. He is currently in the Sangamon County Jail.

Stay tuned to this story for updates.

Sangamon County, Illinois – The Sangamon County Board’s regular meeting will take place as scheduled on Tuesday, September 10th, along with all committee meetings. However, the board meeting will be largely procedural. No substantive business, reports, presentations, or public comment will occur during this meeting.

The Board will quickly adjourn after a roll call and the approval of the previous meetings’ minutes until a special meeting on Wednesday, September 18th at 6:00 PM to be held at the Convention Center. This special meeting will cover all September business, public comment, and the possible confirmation of a new Sheriff.

The Sheriff Applicant Review Committee, established by County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter and chaired by retired 7th District Circuit Court Judge Pat Kelley, has selected seven finalists from an initial pool of fifteen applicants. Interviews with the finalists will begin next week, and each candidate will undergo a comprehensive background check.

In a joint statement, Chairman Van Meter and Committee Chairman Kelley said, “We are truly thankful for the interest and willingness to serve shown by so many candidates. The Sheriff’s Office is crucial to public safety and community trust, and we are confident that from these seven finalists, we will find the best person to lead with integrity and transparency.”

Finalists:

Timothy Becker (Athens Chief of Police; Retired Chief of Staff from the Illinois State Police)

Bryce Benton (Illinois State Police, Division of Criminal Investigation, Intelligence Command, Special Agent/Task Force Officer)

Paula Crouch (Chief Deputy Circuit Clerk of Sangamon County; Retired Lieutenant from the Springfield Police Department)

Nancy Finley (Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, Sergeant)

Mike Harth (Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, Sergeant)

Chris Mueller (Sangamon County Central Dispatch, Executive Director; Retired Lieutenant from the Springfield Police Department)

Bryan Pruitt (Retired from the Illinois State Police, Captain of District 10/Troop 7)

Springfield, Illinois – A Springfield Police Sergeant, who was supposed to be celebrating his retirement today, is accused of being intoxicated and causing a motorcycle crash on the evening of September 5th, around 9:20 p.m., on East Lake Shore Drive.

An eyewitness, Jason Rule, reported that Springfield Police Sergeant Michael A. Egan, driving a Toyota 4Runner, made a left turn from the farthest northbound lane on East Lake Shore Drive into the entrance of the Anchor Boat Club. In doing so, he cut off a motorcycle carrying two passengers, a man and a woman, causing the motorcycle to collide with the rear passenger side of Egan’s vehicle. “He didn’t even turn into the Anchor Boat Club from the turning lane; he pulled right in front of the motorcycle,” Rule stated.

Rule, who was driving behind the motorcycle at approximately 43 mph, also mentioned that when Springfield Police arrived, they provided Egan with at least four cups of water and gum, and that “he smelled like bourbon.”

Several individuals who arrived at the scene after the crash, including a Springfield Leaks reporter, observed what appeared to be special treatment from the officers. Egan was seen going in and out of his vehicle, rummaging around, and stumbling several times. “Why does he get special privileges?” one observer questioned. Another witness recalled Egan saying, “My buddies are going to take care of me.” Notably, Egan was neither handcuffed nor placed in the back of a police vehicle but instead allowed to sit in the front seat of an Illinois State Trooper’s vehicle with the front passenger door open.

Illinois State Police reported at the scene that Egan refused to perform a field sobriety test. However, Troopers kept Egan on the scene for approximately four hours before taking him for a blood test.

According to Illinois State Police Sergeant Melissa Albert-Lopez, a preliminary investigation indicates that the following occurred: ISP Troop 6 was requested by the Springfield Police Department to conduct a traffic crash investigation at the mentioned location.

The investigation revealed that Egan, driving a 2018 Toyota Tundra (Unit 1), was traveling northbound on East Lake Shore Drive, while a 2004 Kawasaki motorcycle (Unit 2) was traveling southbound. Egan failed to yield the right-of-way and made a left turn in front of the motorcycle, resulting in the motorcycle striking the side of Egan’s vehicle. Both the driver and passenger of the motorcycle were ejected and sustained serious injuries, requiring hospitalization.

Egan, a 50-year-old Springfield resident, was cited for the crash. The Illinois State Police have contacted the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office, and additional charges may be filed pending the results of a toxicology report. No further information is available at this time.

We spoke with a spokesperson for Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher, who informed us that the Springfield Police Department sent out a press release. However, we have not received it yet. We will update this when we do.

Egan, who was not booked into the Sangamon County Jail, was scheduled to have a retirement party today at Anchor Boat Club, located at 407 E Lake Shore Drive, after serving with the Springfield Police Department for 23 years. However, this morning the Anchor Boat Club posted on their Facebook page, “This evening’s retirement party for Mike Egan has been cancelled.”

We are told that the driver of the motorcycle, Trevor Hopkins, is in stable condition, and the passenger, Chelsea Farley, is still in the Intensive Care Unit awaiting surgery for multiple injuries but is showing signs of brain activity.

Springfield, Illinois – On September 4, 2024, Chane L. Jones, a 42-year-old male, escaped custody from the Sangamon County Jail. Chane L. Jones was incarcerated for a warrant regarding burglary and theft and was booked into the Sangamon County Jail on September 3rd. Jones was able to mingle with three other inmates, who were administratively released from custody, and exit the jail.

Chane L Jones was apprehended in the 1100 block of North 5th Street in Springfield by US Marshalls and deputies from the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office. Jones is in custody at the Sangamon County Jail and faces additional charges.

This incident remains under investigation by the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office.

Springfield, Illinois – In our ongoing coverage of the Springfield Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit and its treatment of people on the East Side of Springfield, Springfield Leaks has obtained body-worn camera footage of the arrest of Jaylin Netters, age 28. Community activist Samuel Johnson, who held a press conference with Jaylin Netters, his mother Keyda Netters, and an activist group, claims that this is yet another instance of the Street Crimes Unit targeting Black individuals on the East Side of Springfield.

Netters was arrested for aggravated battery to a police officer, obstructing a police officer, resisting arrest, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. He was released from the Sangamon County Jail and was not formally charged.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL POLICE REPORT

Springfield, Illinois – Sean Patrick Grayson, a former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy accused of murdering Sonya Massey in her home after responding to her 911 call about a prowler, has replaced his Naperville, Illinois attorney with a high-profile Springfield criminal defense attorney.

Attorney Mark Wykoff has taken over from Naperville attorney Brian Sexton as Grayson’s counsel, joining Daniel Fultz of the law firm Brown, Hay & Stephens

Today, Grayson will appear in a Sangamon County courtroom at 3:30 PM for a pre-trial motion seeking his release.

Wykoff, who has previously secured the release of two clients facing murder charges, stated in the motion that Grayson would remain at his home in Riverton, Illinois, where he lives with his fiancée. Grayson, a veteran who received a general discharge from the United States Army under honorable conditions, is scheduled to marry in October. He has also recently undergone a significant medical procedure and is still receiving ongoing care.

Wykoff also noted in his motion that all firearms and other weapons have been removed from Grayson’s home and that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board has suspended his certification as a police officer.

Stay tuned to Springfield Leaks for more updates to this article.

Springfield, Illinois — The Springfield, Illinois Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit is being accused of targeting people on the East Side of Springfield and turning minor traffic offenses into an opportunity to conduct traffic stops in order to search their vehicles for contraband or firearms.

According to police reports, on July 8, 2024, around 7:47 p.m., Springfield Police Officers Sgt. Michael R. Raynolds and Patrol Officer Corey Cortes reported that they observed a black Nissan sedan traveling southbound in the 1000 block of N. 9th Street. The vehicle had heavily tinted passenger-side windows, which appeared to be illegal. Sgt. Raynolds noted that, as he was driving northbound on 9th Street and observed the Nissan with visibly illegal window tints, the driver’s window was partially rolled down. The driver looked at their vehicle and continued to look toward them after passing. Sgt. Raynolds noted, “From my training and experience, I know that subjects who are in possession of illegal contraband, specifically firearms and narcotics, will view police and then continue to watch officers for their reaction.” Sgt. Raynolds then stated that he conducted a U-turn based on Ardell Hampton Jr.’s eye contact, got behind the vehicle, and exited his squad car to approach the driver’s door. “As I got out of the vehicle, the driver also got out of his vehicle. I told the driver he needed to stop because I was conducting a traffic stop. The driver advised that he did not need to stop. I then observed the subject (Ardell) bending down for a second, and I believed he was bending down to discard evidence and flee on foot. I know from my training and experience that subjects who possess illegal contraband will commonly distance themselves from their vehicle. However, surveillance video from Oscar’s Corner Store does not show that the officers had their red/blue emergency lights on when they conducted their traffic stop.”

In Officer Cortes’s report, he stated that Ardell quickly exited the vehicle and attempted to walk away, and that Sgt. Raynolds “gave him several lawful orders to stay in the vehicle and to stop walking away.” Officer Cortes also noted, “I know based on my training and experience that subjects illegally possessing firearms or contraband often attempt to quickly distance themselves from it.” However, after searching Ardell’s vehicle, officers did not find any contraband or firearms.

Officer Cortes wrote that Ardell instantly became hostile and argumentative, refused to comply with lawful orders, and attempted to “walk away even after being advised that they were conducting a traffic stop, meaning he was detained.” According to the body-worn camera footage, it appears that Ardell got out of the vehicle, dropped his keys, and bent down to pick them up. Officers then approached him, grabbed him, asked if he had something illegal on him, took him to the ground, and cuffed him. While on the ground, they asked him, “Do you have a gun on you?”

Officer Cortes continues in his report, writing, “Based on my observations, I believed that Ardell was fighting with police due to having contraband on his person and potentially a firearm. I attempted to grab his right arm, but he kept it close to his body, and I was unable to obtain control of his arm. Ardell had a significant height advantage over us, and to prevent him from continuing to fight and to de-escalate the situation, I grabbed Ardell by his head and the hoodie of his sweatshirt and pulled him to the ground.”

Ardell was initially transported to the Springfield Police Department because he told officers he was a juvenile. However, officers confirmed he was 20 years old and transported him to the Sangamon County Jail. At the Sangamon County Jail, Ardell complained of a headache and wanted to go to the hospital. Ardell was returned to the officer’s squad car and eventually given a notice to appear in court. He was also asked if he wanted a ride to the hospital, but he refused. He was then told that his mother and father were at the Springfield Police Department, given directions, and instructed to walk there.

Community Activist, Samuel Johnson, compares the current situation to the issues faced by former Sangamon County Sheriff Sean Grayson in Logan County, Illinois. Grayson is accused of murdering Sonya Massey in her home after believing she intended to throw a pot of hot water at him. In Logan County, it was reported that “Grayson stated he saw a woman suspiciously slide down in her seat in a parked pickup truck after making eye contact with him.” Johnson questions, “Are we now pulling people over and targeting them because of eye contact?”

Johnson also mentioned that, prior to this incident, he had attempted to reach out to Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher, as well as former Mayor Jim Langfelder, about the “Jump Out Boys” to arrange a meeting on policing and potential changes on the East Side. However, his calls, text messages, and emails have gone unanswered. When asked if he still wants to have this discussion with Mayor Buscher, Johnson replied, “Yes, I would still like to sit down and discuss an executive order that would establish a relationship between the Mayor’s office and the community, aiming to build solutions for the problems that persist between the police department and the citizens they are meant to protect.”

Johnson also stressed the need for stop receipts to be given to citizens who have encounters with the police. Johnson cited an Illinois law (725 ILCS 5/107-14), which states:

Temporary questioning without arrest. 
    (a) A peace officer, after having identified himself as a peace officer, may stop any person in a public place for a reasonable period of time when the officer reasonably infers from the circumstances that the person is committing, is about to commit or has committed an offense as defined in Section 102-15 of this Code, and may demand the name and address of the person and an explanation of his actions. Such detention and temporary questioning will be conducted in the vicinity of where the person was stopped.
    (b) Upon completion of any stop under subsection (a) involving a frisk or search, and unless impractical, impossible, or under exigent circumstances, the officer shall provide the person with a stop receipt which provides the reason for the stop and contains the officer's name and badge number. This subsection (b) does not apply to searches or inspections for compliance with the Fish and Aquatic Life Code, the Wildlife Code, the Herptiles-Herps Act, or searches or inspections for routine security screenings at facilities or events. For the purposes of this subsection (b), "badge" means an officer's department issued identification number associated with his or her position as a police officer with that department.

Hampton is being represented by Attorney Sara Vig of Vig Law P.C., which is located at 1100 S. 5th St. in Springfield, IL.

CLICK HERE TO READ A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT