LAWRENCE CO.—One of Lawrence County’s most questionable deputies is on administrative leave tonight after an incident in the state’s attorney’s office today (March 28, 2013).
Dennis York
Dennis York, who has been with the Lawrence County sheriff’s department off and on for a number of years (he took a brief hiatus in 2006 after getting a job with a military contractor and spending some time in Iraq), has been one of the most violent deputies the department has produced. Since 2003, Disclosure has chronicled incidents involving York that had him teaming up with the uber-violent Billy “PeeWee” Darnell of St. Francisville, beating restrained suspects, spraying mace in the mouths of restrained people, and, with the advent of TASERs being used by Lawrence County, indiscriminately using that weapon on many suspects, all without justification—including an incident in early 2010 involving one man who was located sleeping in his truck by York, who subsequently woke up the man by TASERing him. With all this, York has only been the subject of one lawsuit: That of two female dispatchers in 2000, who filed a sexual harassment case against the county that involved not only York and Darnell, but other sheriff’s department employees as well.
Today, however, was a whole new realm for York, as the alleged assault involved another public official—Chris Quick, Lawrence’s new state’s attorney.
Officials said that the origin of the incident had to do with the fact that York had taken a couple of days off this week, ostensibly for the birth of a grandchild…but the departure was inopportune, as Quick needed York to testify, as arresting officer, in a preliminary hearing in court yesterday (Wednesday, March 27). Quick reported the situation to the sheriff’s department, who subsequently gave York a stern talking-to about the importance of previously scheduled court appearances, and how, as arresting officer, it was York’s duty to ensure he appeared in court for such a case. (In the past, York has not only done such a disappearing trick—which endangered the state’s case against an individual—but he has also gotten caught lying on the stand, as well as fabricating things for police reports. However, up to this point, through thus far three other state’s attorneys [Todd Rietz, Pat Hahn and Lisa Wade], he’s been allowed to do just such a thing without repercussion.)
York, of course, didn’t take too well to the way Quick handled the matter.
Eyewitnesses report that today, York entered Quick’s office at the courthouse and, passing through the reception area and to the back room of the office—where Quick’s desk is, and from which there is only one entrance/exit—he advised the county’s prosecutor that he needed to “put down his pen, stop writing, and listen,” as York was there to give Quick a piece of his mind.
Reports indicate that York at first was speaking in a normal tone of voice, but as he continued the haranguing, his voice grew louder and he became more animated. The entire time, it was reported, Quick listened calmly to the deputy…that is, until part of York’s animation was that he began placing his hand on the butt of his service weapon in the process or his tongue-lashing.
After several moments of this, it was reported, Quick decided he’d had enough, and that York was getting out of control. Quick left past York and went to the entrance of the front office; York followed, still griping. Quick reportedly turned to York and apparently made to put his hand on the deputy’s shoulder, in an effort to usher him out of the office—and York came unglued.
At this point, York began literally screaming at Quick, to the effect, according to eyewitnesses, of “Don’t you put your fucking hand on me, I’ll have you fucking arrested!”
Quick, not one to put up with such nonsense, reportedly pointed his finger at York and said “If you don’t get out of here, I’ll have YOU arrested!”
Lawrence County prosecutor Chris Quick
This of course set off York even worse. Intensifying his screams at the prosecutor, York advanced on Quick, who saw fit at that point to leave the office altogether and go to the lobby of the second floor (where the entrances to the courtrooms, as well as to the circuit clerk’s office, are). York followed, still screaming. Believing York was about to leave, Quick saw an opportunity to retreat back to his office (where he could put two doors between himself and the deputy if he were fast enough), and this he did—but York came after him. It was at this point, when Quick was attempting to shut the bottom half of the split doors that open into the reception area, that York grabbed the very heavy bottom portion of the door, and, according to eyewitnesses, slammed it on Quick’s hand, trapping the middle finger of Quick’s right hand in the locking mechanism briefly, before Quick could get the door back open and extract his now-injured hand from the closed door.
Quick then went to the back office and dialed 911. Lawrence County dispatch answered, and Quick advised them to send an officer to the state’s attorney’s office, as there was a “disturbance.” Deputies were dispatched via radio. Of course, this dispatch went over York’s portable. At that point, he grabbed his mic and advised “It’s ME; it’s ME, motherfuckers!! I’m the one in his office!!” as if this were going to prompt responding deputies to slow down or cease altogether their response.
Fortunately, that didn’t happen. And even more fortunately, others in the courthouse had their scanners on.
With York, at this time beet red, livid and very nearly nose-to-nose with Quick, still screaming at the prosecutor, probation officer Jeff Lynn came running up from his office in the basement, having heard the dispatch over his radio. Before county officers could respond, Lynn, who is an imposing 6-foot-plus and fairly rugged and sturdily built compared to the petite York, was able to get between the deputy and the prosecutor, and when officers finally did reach the scene, Chief Deputy Trent Masterson was able to get York to step outside.
Masterson reportedly spoke with Quick, and it was decided that Quick should call Illinois State Police District 12. It’s been reported that he did, and it’s been confirmed that an investigation into the matter has been started. Quick was traveling this afternoon to Terre Haute (across the river from his home in Marshall), where he was to have the hand X-rayed to see if anything was broken.
“Neither myself nor anybody in my department condones such violence whether or not it is perpetrated against a pubic official or anyone else,” said Lawrence County Sheriff Russell Adams, who was reached in Texas for comment. “Deputy York has been sent home with pay pending the outcome of the investigation by the Illinois State Police.”
It’s been suggested that Quick file a civil no-contact order against York, at which time the deputy, who is considered “dangerous” by many including those who know and work with him, will lose access to his weapons. Whether this will be accomplished or not remains to be seen; the courthouses are closed tomorrow for Good Friday, so it will be Monday before something like that can be done.
There’ll be more in the next print version, on stands April 17, unless there is any development between now and that time; keep checking back for updates.