A plea for justice by a representative of the grieving family of a teen killed nearly two years ago by a Waukegan police officer went out of control, causing a 20-minute recess at a City Council meeting as officials, including up to nine police officers, tried to calm the situation.
Rabbi Michael Ben Yosef of Chicago, representing the family of Marcellis Stinnette, demanded answers and justice for the Stinnette family at a Waukegan City Council meeting Tuesday at City Hall, criticizing the long delay between the shooting and any legal consequences for the officers involved.
A decision may be near whether two police officers involved in the shooting death of Stinnette and wounding of his pregnant girlfriend, Tafara Williams, on Oct. 20, 2020, will face charges. The choice will be made by Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart.
After the shooting, Waukegan police referred the investigation to the Illinois State Police. Lake County authorities said a week after the shooting that the investigation could take several weeks before results would go to the state’s attorney for review for possible charges.
Members of the public have since complained from time to time at City Council meetings that the investigation has been taking too long. On Tuesday, the calls for answers came from Ben Yosef and Sherrellis Stinnette, the victim’s grandmother.
“I just want to know what’s going to be done about my grandson’s death,” Stinnette said. “There is too much violence going on, police killing our Black children. I’d just like to know when can we get some justice. We need justice. I want answers.”
After making her comments, Stinnette stood silently at the podium awaiting a response from Mayor Ann Taylor or one of the aldermen. None came, and she took her seat. As others spoke on different topics, a member of the public came to comfort her.
Ben Yosef, who described himself as “activist here in Chicago and a human rights activist nationwide,” was the last speaker. He said he was representing the Stinnette family, demanded answers and disregarded the rules of public comment in purposely trying to interact with officials.
“Dante Salinas is still not charged,” Ben Yosef said, referring to the officer who officials said shot Stinnette. “How long have you been mayor? How about you?” he added, pointing at Ald. Keith Turner, 6th Ward. “You’re a Black man. Shame on you.”
Taylor responded she has been mayor for 18 months. Turner was silent. As Ben Yosef started to ask Ald. Edith Newsome, 5th Ward, a question, Taylor interrupted him.
“We don’t engage back and forth,” she said, reminding Ben Yosef of the rules. “The case is with the state’s attorney’s office. The officers no longer work here.”
Ben Yosef refused to take Taylor’s comments for an answer. He said engagement between him and the council was necessary because there, “seems to be no sense of concern, no sense of urgency upon this city.”
“You’re absolutely out of your minds. If it had been your child, what would do sir?” Ben Yosef said, pointing at Ald. Thomas Hayes, 9th Ward. “What would you do, ma’am?” he added, looking at Ald. Lynn Florian, 8th Ward.
“This family needs accountability,” he continued. “They need that killer cop off the force. They need to have this city say (Stinnette’s) name, and never forget his name.”
As Taylor tried to continue the meeting moving to the next item on the agenda, Ben Yosef said, “Say his name” and “Black lives matter,” repeatedly. Taylor said Stinnette’s name twice, but Ben Yosef did not stop speaking as she called a five-minute recess which ended up lasting 20.
During the recess, Ben Yosef continued talking to the few people remaining in the room, which included Police Chief Keith Zupec. Soon, other officers arrived in the room stranding on the sides, by the doors and in the back. They remained silent. The Waukegan Police Station is adjacent to City Hall.
Waukegan City Council recess as members of the police department listen.
After approximately 20 minutes, George Bridges, Jr., the chief of staff to the mayor, walked up to Ben Yosef and quietly asked him to leave so the meeting could continue. The rabbi complied.
Contrary to Ben Yosef’s allegations, Salinas was terminated by the department shortly after the shooting, because he failed to turn on his body camera, and because he killed a passenger who, “was not in control of the suspect car,” according to his termination letter.
The other officer involved in the shooting incident, James Keating, left department shortly after Taylor took office in May of 2021. She said after the meeting she could not discuss personnel matters.
Contacted during the meeting, Rinehart said in an email he received both the Illinois State Police report and a subsequent study this spring and summer. He deemed them necessary to make an informed decision about charging one or both of the officers.
Rinehart said he has been in regular contact with Stinnette’s family.
“I cannot imagine what the family and loved ones of Marcellis are going through,” he said in the email. “I can only say that our team of prosecutors and investigators has been working to get to the correct conclusion in this case since the Illinois State Police finished their report,”.
When Rinehart realized the state police report did not include trajectory analysis or a reconstruction of the scene, he said he ordered it independently to enable his office to make the most informed decision possible.
“We took the extra step of hiring a nationally recognized expert to painstakingly analyze the scene and the available evidence,” he said. “The law and justice are our guiding principles. We will get this right based on the law and the evidence.”
