Champaign man refutes police account of son’s alleged beating

By Sean Powers/Illinois Public Media -- Critics of the Champaign Police Department are expressing outrage, and a differing account of the arrest of an African-American teen last weekend, that they say involved excessive use of force.

Police say Calvin Miller ran a red light and swerved into traffic to avoid police on Monday at around 1:30 am, and then at one point, jumped from a moving van, which hit the front of the house. Police say Miller then reached for the officer’s duty belt, and the officer struck him with his hand.

“It’s a situation that could have been resolved very, very minimal with the officer stopping, the potential for a ticket, and the offender going on,” Champaign Police Chief R.T. Finney told WDWS radio. “We don’t make the decision for people to run….if you run from the police, not only is it illegal, but it’s going to have some dire consequences.”

Responding to the police department’s account of what happened, Calvin’s father, Martel Miller claims police rammed into his son’s car, and then maced him with pepper spray, struck him repeatedly on the face, head and ankle, and hit him with a baton.

“This is part of racial profiling,” Miller told a crowd Thursday outside of the Champaign Police Department. “What I want you all to understand is abuse with black young men has been going on for too long, and it’s by this department.”

The incident comes two years after the police shooting death of teenager Kiwane Carrington.

Miller said he hasn’t yet filed a formal complaint against the police department. In the last few days, there has been flurry of outrage over the alleged police beating of his son, and there are calls for major changes in the police department. Aaron Ammons, the co-founder of C-U Citizens for Peace and Justice, said there is no reason Miller should have been struck in the first place.

“We’re asking for and demanding that these officers be removed, those who have been problems throughout the community ongoing that they can be removed and that new officers are brought in,” Ammons said. “And bring more African American and people of color officers into this department who live here, who know the community, and who have a stake in the community.”

Finney said the case will be reviewed to determine if there was excessive force used. Finney noted that officials with his department will likely address the city council on Tuesday night. Critics of the police department are expected to do the same. The Champaign City Council plans to discuss a proposal for a citizens police review board later this fall. That proposal was brought up last week, before the Calvin Miller arrest.

“Certainly the officers had every reason to get him into custody, and protect themselves in that backyard, and I think that’s what they did,” Finney said, adding that there wasn’t anything he believed the police officers could have done in the situation.

At Thursday’s demonstration outside of the Champaign Police Department, 30-year-old Gary McFarland of Champaign came forward. He said at the start of October, a Champaign police officer hit him as he was trying to enter his home.

McFarland said that incident resulted in his jaw having to be wired shut: “He never asked my name. He never asked for my ID. He never searched me. I could have been anybody.”

A review of court records show McFarland was charged with resisting a police officer and criminal trespassing on Oct. 3.