Residents describe the interactions with the Illinois sheriff’s office linked to the death of Sonya Massey: “I was terrified”

On Tuesday, officials approved a $ 10 million settlement For the family of Sonya Masseywho was shot dead in his kitchen by a deputy of the Sheriff of Sangamon County in July after Massey called a possible merodeter outside his home.

He is ever paid by the county.

After Massey is killing In Illinois, community members were outraged. He sheriff At the time of Massey’s murder he resigned, and Sheriff Paula Crouch took the position in September.

“I will do my best to hold my employees responsible and make sure that they continue not only our policies and procedures, but also the laws that are in force,” said Crouch.

After Massey’s murder, a CBS news investigation found that dozens of civil rights complaints against the Sangamon County Sheriff’s office in Illinois date back to 20 years.

Research reveals years of civil rights complaints

During the last six months, CBS News obtained surveillance, Videos of CAM and Dash, photos of the crime scene, documents for the application of the law and judicial records related to more than 50 civil rights complaints presented by the families in the county of Sangamon in the last 20 years. The accusations of false arrests, excessive strength and death.

During the investigation, CBS News interviewed more than a dozen people who allege police behavior in the county. The accusations involve multiple deputies and corrections officers, not only those mentioned in this story.

When Billie Ger saw Massey’s video, her reaction was that she thought it could have happened to her. In 2022, Greer got a blow to his door for a different deputy from the Sangamon County Sheriff than the one who shot Massey.

When he refused to accept the judicial paperwork for a relative, he said that a deputy has long followed her to the house of an old neighbor where she was delivering food and arrested her.

“‘I thought,’ Oh, I could firing easily, ‘” said Greer. “I was terrified.”

Eleven years before Gerer was arrested for no reason, the same deputy stopped Cliffton Flagg and his then girlfriend, Tamara Skube, who was Taser twice.

Skube said he has a scar from where Taser hit her the first time. She filed a Federal Demand on the incident.

She said the judge in her case determined the illegal use of force, but said that the Sheriff’s office did nothing to hold the deputy. The deputy involved in the incident did not respond to multiple requests for comments from CBS News. The county established the lawsuit with Skube without admitting responsibility.

Greer and dozens of others also sued Sangamon County. In all cases, the Sheriff’s office and the officers involved denied any irregularity, even in cases where the county was established.

“There is no repercussions for what these officers are doing. I don’t care if someone is entering my house. I would never call the police to come to protect me,” says Skube now.

Responsibility in the Sheriff Department

Crouch said he believes that only actions can reassure the community. As for the past responsibility, even for the officer involved in the cases of Greer and Skube who are still in force, he said he can only speak with his time in leadership.

“I can’t explain what happened before coming here,” he said. “I have not received any complaint against that person since I have been the sheriff.”

He added that he does not believe that the department has a police problem.

“Do you find bad employees? All agencies have had those people,” said Crouch.

The deputy who shot Massey, Sean Grayson, was accused of murder and declared himself innocent. He is in jail waiting for trial.

Jerichka Duncan