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Champaign police say taser deployed during traffic stop; juvenile treated and released as review begins
Summary
Champaign Police issued a statement describing a June/July traffic stop that ended with a taser deployment on a juvenile, injuries from a fall, recovery of firearms and narcotics during linked searches, and a departmental review of the use-of-force.
Champaign Police announced that on the morning of a recent traffic stop near Mattis Avenue and Williamsburg Drive, officers assisting an Urbana investigation attempted to stop a vehicle that fled and was later located several blocks away. Four occupants exited the vehicle; when the driver fled on foot, officers tried to detain the remaining three, and one juvenile failed to comply with verbal commands. According to the department statement read at the Champaign–Urbana Community Coalition meeting, the juvenile was warned of the potential use of a taser and, when he continued to flee, a Champaign officer deployed a taser. The juvenile fell forward and sustained injuries to his face, hands and knees; an ambulance was requested and the juvenile was transported for medical evaluation. Because of his age, the statement said, the juvenile was released to his parents pending potential charges.
The statement said a firearm was recovered during the course of the investigation and that a search warrant served by the Urbana Police Department yielded additional firearms, ammunition and a narcotics arrest. The Champaign Police Department said it is conducting a thorough review of the use-of-force in accordance with department policy.
Tracy, the coalition host who opened the meeting, corrected an earlier reference in the read statement about the incident date, noting the event occurred the previous night in July rather than in June. The department’s written summary presented at the meeting did not include the juvenile’s name, ages for other occupants, or the precise charges under consideration.
The department’s statement read at the meeting: “The Champaign Police Department treats the actions of its officers with the utmost seriousness, and we work to ensure that all uses of force are lawful and compliant with department policy.” The coalition meeting record shows the department requested medical evaluation following the incident; it also noted that the juvenile was released to parental custody pending potential charges.
Next steps: the department said an internal review is underway. No formal charges or disciplinary findings were announced at the meeting.
