Vigil Arrest Sparks Calls For JPD To Change How Policing Is Done

JOLIET, IL — A group of Joliet residents attended the City Council meeting Tuesday to ask officials to take action over what they call police misconduct at a prayer vigil. Ernest Crim III, a local activist, teacher and former City Council candidate, accused Officer Adam Stapleton of tackling a woman without cause.

Crim demanded the City Council improve how Joliet police officers are trained to deal with residents, "especially those who are black," and make an effort to hire black officers to police their own neighborhoods, among other demands.

On Tuesday, July 9, Konika Morrow, 40, was at a prayer vigil at a South Ottawa Street church for her missing cousin, 33-year-old Jasmine J. Morrow, who was last seen July 2.

Related: Joliet Police Seek Help Finding Missing Woman

At the same time, police were called to the area to address an ATV and dirt bikes being driven recklessly. Joshwa Cooley, 19, was stopped by police for operating an unlicensed motorized device on public property, according to Joliet police.

A group from the church vigil walked up to Cooley and the cops, telling Cooley not to talk to the them, Jolice police said.

Morrow, Cooley's aunt, was among the group. They walked to the area "to ensure that [Cooley] was safe," Crim told the City Council Tuesday evening.

"During this time the officers on the scene were respectful," Crim said.

He told the City Council that Morrow was talking to another cop, who did not deem her a threat. "If she was such a threat, I ask you, why didn't the other officers treat her the same way?"

See more on Patch:

• Arrest Made At Site Of Vigil For Missing Woman
• Joliet Cop Adam Stapleton Assaulted Me, Konika Morrow Tells Patch

Police say the crowd "began threatening the officers ... At one point, Morrow approached the officers and she was told to stay back," Joliet police said. "When an officer put his arm out to keep Morrow from the other officers, Morrow attempted to hit the officer with her arm. After a brief struggle, Morrow was placed into custody."

Crim told the City Council that this isn't how it happened. He said Stapleton arrived and immediately treated Morrow like a suspect. He said Stapleton got out of his squad car and "aggressively approached Ms. Morrow as if she had committed a crime" before tackling her needlessly.

See a recording below. The video includes profanity.

Morrow was charged with obstructing a police officer and aggravated assault.

Crim had demands for the City Council:

• The charges against Morrow dropped
• A public apology from Stapleton
• Disciplinary actions for Stapleton
• A change in protocol for how officers are trained to address Joliet residents, "especially those who are black"
• An increased effort to hire black police officers and have them serve their own community

"This could have been ... anybody," he told the Council.

Mayor Bob O'Dekirk and Councilwoman Sherri Reardon of District 3 have not yet responded to Patch's requests for comment. Patch will update this article with their responses.