LAWRENCE CO., Ill.—Lawrence County Sheriff Russell Adams has taken action in the case of an incident that occurred earlier this month.
Adams today fired former court security officer Mike Rich, who ran into a little trouble on September 4 as outlined in this post. For those who might not be familiar with it, the situation came about after an arrest of an allegedly drunken man, Gregory McMahon of Jefferson County, following a fight at a bar in Westport. Long story short (you can read the whole thing at the below link), McMahon, who was bleeding profusely from a head wound sustained in the bar brawl, got verbally abusive, threatening those in the jail, and took the opportunity to spit on Rich. Rich came unglued and allegedly landed a karate kick on the restrained man’s chest…and as a result, Rich was placed on leave.
Illinois State Police were called in to be impartial investigators, and that’s been ongoing until today. Today, after conferring with the representative from the union previous sheriff Steve Chansler got the department into and from which there’s no easy extrication (and which has cost the county a phenomenal amount of money in raises and overtime over the years, as well has the department having to hang on to worthless deputies), Rhett Barkey, Rich’s employ was terminated.
And further, ISP has turned the case over to the feds: The Federal Bureau of Investigation, this, apparently, on the heels of what happened in Ferguson, Missouri, according to authorities in Lawrence County.
Why this is further notable is outlined in the full article which is in the current issue (September 2014) on stands now. Here’s a snippet as your evening Read the Lead, Officer on leave after assault alleged.
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Mike Rich
…EMTs took McMahon to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for attention to the head wound, and he subsequently needed stitches. It was determined that he was barely bruised from the kick that was landed to the chest, and no harm was done.
To McMahon, anyway.
Because of McMahon’s complaints about the incident, sheriff’s department officials knew that they were going to have to address it officially. So Chief Deputy Trent Masterson called Illinois State Police, and MSgt Ryan Shumaker contacted county prosecutor Chris Quick Friday morning, Sept. 5, for a formal request to have ISP investigate the incident.
Rich was placed on administrative leave with pay, which was how Sheriff Russell Adams was advised to handle it when Adams called the attorney representing the union of which Rich, and other sheriff’s department employees, are a part.
Problems in the past
This wouldn’t be Rich’s first problem that the union has had to step in over his employment.
In 2005, Rich was suspended from his job as a jailer after allegations were made that Rich was offering cigarettes and snacks to jailed female inmates if they would display their bare breasts to him. Enough women came forward with the complaint that then-sheriff Dennis Bridwell had no choice but to suspend Rich pending outcome of the investigation.
Rich was reported to have admitted that this behavior did indeed take place. But, because of union protection, he was able to successfully fight to get his job back after taking the matter to court…
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To read the full article, click the headline link above the excerpt if you’re an online subscriber to the e-Edition. If you aren’t a subscriber yet, click this link here to get started; we now have day passes if you just need a quick fix of Disclosure! Or, if you would rather hold a paper in your hands, pick up a copy at any one of our many vendors, including in Lawrence, Lou’s Restaurant in Bridgeport, or Jim’s Guns on Highway 250 between Bridgeport and Lawrenceville; in neighboring Allendale, CJ’s; and neighboring Flat Rock, Maxwell House. Don’t miss this issue; it’s a HUGE one for Lawrence County, and it’s only on stands for the next TWO WEEKS.