Robbins Mayor Darren Bryant has called his May 15 arrest by Calumet Park police unlawful and said it demonstrates a need for more transparency from police officers during a traffic stop.
But Calumet Park attorneys defend the arrest, saying Bryant made an illegal turn and refused to give officers his license and proof of insurance after the officers asked at least 10 times, according to Burt Odelson, an attorney for Calumet Park.
Bryant said he wanted to know why he was pulled over before handing over his driver’s license and registration.
“I have no problem following the law if you can first tell me and educate me,” he said. “It’s so disheartening because now my image is out there, my image is the one being questioned about being a law-abiding citizen.”
Bryant is scheduled to appear in court at 10:30 a.m. on July 14 at the Cook County courthouse in Markham. He was cited with disobeying a traffic control device, not having proof of insurance and obstructing a police officer.
Bryant alleges officers yanked him out of his car and would not give him details about his arrest during the traffic stop at 1 a.m. near Interstate 57 and 127th Street. He also said he does have insurance.
But Odelson said the officer warned Bryant at least six times that if he did not hand over his license, they would take him out of the car.
“It don’t got to be more than what it is,” the officer told Bryant when asking him to comply, according to body camera footage.
Odelson said telling Bryant why he was pulled over is a courtesy, not a right. He also alleged that Bryant started getting “cocky,” saying the officers did not know who they were dealing with.
“He was trying to use his position as mayor as to why they shouldn’t be arresting him,” Odelson said.
“He should know better, and it’s a terrible, terrible example for the youth and for people in general,” Odelson said. “When a police officer asks you for identification, you give it to him.”
Bryant said he takes issue with officers not telling him why he was pulled over, despite him repeatedly asking for details. He said the officers’ refusal to answer questions prompted him to record his own footage of the arrest.
Bryant cited a history of police misconduct in justifying why it’s important to understand why he was being pulled over.
“Imagine if someone told you to come here and you didn’t know what they were saying come here for,” he said. “Imagine if somebody was telling you to do something and you were still confused on how I’m even in this moment. I think understanding needs to be the core of anything.”
He said a lack of understanding should not lead to an arrest and that police officers should be “peace officers” who are trained to keep a civilian calm and make sure the civilian understands why they’re being pulled over.
He said has spoken with state legislators and lobbyists since the arrest about possible legislation that would require officers to inform people why they are pulled over.
“What’s next is to protect all the men and women out there who are being pulled out of vehicles who simply are not understanding why they’re being pulled over,” he said.
Bryant said in a public statement last week he wanted to see the body camera footage of the arrest and meet with Calumet Park Mayor Ronald Denson. But Bryant said Friday he had no comment on these demands after the footage was released to the public. He said he had not seen the footage Friday.
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He also corrected public statements to say that officers did ask for his license and insurance.