For the second time in a week police in Champaign have another controversial run-in with a local teen ager. Officers say it was business as usual, but local activists say enough is enough and say police need to start answering some questions.
An arrest last week at Douglass Park in Champaign sparked a rift between officers and the African American community. Thursday, police arrested two teenage males at the Illinois terminal for disorderly conduct. Both remain in custody and are charged with aggravated assault/battery and resisting arrest.
Activists in the community say African Americans are unfairly targeted and sometimes abused by officers. Police say both uses of force are being investigated, but say the officers acted accordingly in both situations.
Champaign Police Chief, R. T. Finney says parents have to work with police when it comes to easing kid's fears of law enforcement. He says, "It can't constantly be the police and the kids trying to reason out we need adults and we need responsible adults to stand up with the police and saying these are the expectations we have."
Local activists say people in the Black community appreciate good police work, but don't care to be roughed up. Terry Townsend says, "The Black community has always I mean always wanted good policing but we don't want things to spiral out of control where people's rights are being violated and people are being harassed."
Finney also says in both situations, the teens wouldn't comply and became aggressive. We're told the two males arrested at the Illinois terminal will appear in court Monday.
