Florence resident urges accountability after son’s April traffic stop; SLED investigation pending

Lanika “Shelly” Williams, a community advocate and CEO of For the People Advocacy Group, told the Florence City Council that she is “completely outraged” after an April 26 traffic stop in which she says her 26‑year‑old son was dragged and slammed by officers and that officers gave the family “countless lies.” Williams said the encounter escalated when a sergeant called for backup and that she and others at the scene were not advised of the reason for the arrest.

In public comments, Williams said her son, who she described as having no prior trouble with the law, was stopped for a traffic violation in their suburban neighborhood and that the stop followed what she said was an earlier instance in which the same officer had followed him home weeks earlier. Williams said the supervising officer handled the matter poorly and that representations by police about city policy — specifically that a motorist with a suspended license in the system must be arrested — were incorrect.

“Where’s the accountability?” Williams asked the council near the end of her remarks. She told the council she has pursued internal channels and met with the mayor, the police chief and a captain; she said the…