Five East Chicago Democratic precinct committeemen will meet June 6 to replace a former City Council member who was removed from office May 16 while Merrillville Democratic committeemen will gather June 7 to replace a town council member who recently resigned.
Robert “Coop” Battle was removed from his 3rd District East Chicago City Council seat by a unanimous vote by his fellow council members. Battle has been in custody since late last year facing federal drug and murder charges.
Lake County Democratic Chairman Sheriff John Buncich said Tuesday that the five 3rd District precinct committeemen will vote to replace Battle. Two of them, Michael Velasquez-Jacobi and Terence Hill, have thrown their names in the ring, according to John Brezik of the Lake County Democratic Central Committee, while two others have expressed interest. Two more people who’re not committeemen have also inquired about the $42,365 a year seat, Buncich said.
The City of East Chicago City Council voted during a May 16 special meeting, 8-0, to remove Battle, who was charged last year with killing Reimundo Camarillo Jr., 31, and with various drug trafficking counts. Battle, unopposed in the November election, was re-elected while housed in the Lake County Jail on Election Day. After his case was transferred to federal court, he was moved to Porter County Jail. In January, he was sworn in to office from the jail.
East Chicago City Attorney Stephen Bower said previously the only way the caucus would be postponed is if the judge deciding the case issues temporary restraining order putting a stop to any action until the case comes before the court.
According to government filings, Battle has trafficked drugs for years, and police caught him in the act in September, when they tracked him to an associate’s house in Michigan and then arrested him in Porter County, where they found $100,700 in cash and a small amount of marijuana on him.
More Top Picks Best Desk Chairs For Teens
Attorneys in the case said during a detention hearing for Battle last fall that he agreed after his arrest to cooperate with police in doing a controlled drug deal with Camarillo. Camarillo didn’t show up to the arranged deal, however, and federal officials allowed Battle to remain free.
Camarillo became suspicious that Battle was cooperating with police when he read in the news about Battle’s arrest, however, and he showed up to Battle’s house in East Chicago on the morning of Oct. 12, his attorney, Jack Friedlander, said at the time.
Battle has claimed that he two got into an argument, with Camarillo coming at him with a switchblade, and that he shot Camarillo in self-defense. However, federal attorneys have said that Camarillo was shot in the back and that no knife was ever found on Camarillo.
Battle’s trial is set for Aug. 8.
The caucus will be held at the American Legion Post 369, 1401 W. Chicago Ave., Buncich said. Doors will be open at 5 p.m. and sealed at 6 p.m. for the vote.
In Merrillville, precinct committeemen from Merrillville’s 3rd Ward will meet at 6 p.m. June 7 at the American Legion Post, 74th Avenue and Broadway, to replace Democratic Town Councilwoman Carol Miano, who resigned May 15 due to health and other reasons. Miano had not attended a meeting since October.
Three people have so far applied for that seat, Brezik said. They are Jason J. Gonzalez, Jeffrey Minchuk and Leona Ore Bowman.
People interested in applying for East Chicago’s 3rd District Council seat have until 5 p.m. Friday to apply, while those interested in the Merrillville seat have until 5 p.m. Saturday, Brezik said.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.