Chicago Police Supt. David Brown on Wednesday gave a brand new explanation for why officers who arrested a man for allegedly throwing $6,300 worth of heroin from the chief of internal affairs’ personal car were removed from street duty. And that’s not the only new development.
“Until we fully understand all of the conduct of every officer involved is why we pulled them,” Brown said. “I made the decision.”
But that’s not what CPD Chief Communications Officer Don Terry told us on February 21.
In an email then, Terry wrote, “The officers are active. They were removed from operations to complete recommended training.”
The story about Chief Yolanda Talley’s car, which was reportedly driven by her niece and occupied by frequently-convicted heroin dealer Kenneth Miles continues to evolve, despite Brown’s best efforts to put the scandal behind him.
CWB Chicago was first to report that public records show Miles was the confidential informant whose bad information led police to conduct the wrongful raid on Anjanette Young’s home. That debacle cost the city a $2.9 million settlement just two months before Miles allegedly threw a bag containing 84 smaller baggies of heroin from Talley’s car last month.
The Sun-Times last week published police body camera video that showed Talley’s niece dropping her aunt’s position in the department as they arrested Miles.
Yesterday, WGN reported that police returned Talley’s car to her niece after Miles’ arrest, even though she was driving on a suspended license. Questions continue to be raised about why police returned the chief’s Lexus when CPD routinely seizes the vehicles of ordinary citizens in much smaller narcotics cases.
In light of WGN’s reporting, it appears the department even released Talley’s car to someone who didn’t have a license to drive.
Also of note:
On February 24, Brown said he had not seen any evidence that Talley had done anything wrong.
“Of course, I wasn’t on the scene making any of these decisions,” he quickly added.
Brown now appears to be applying a double standard in which he personally removed front-line officers from duty “until we fully understand all of the conduct” while still allowing Talley to serve as the head of internal affairs as the city’s inspector general reviews the circumstances of her car being involved in a sizable heroin bust.
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