Springfield officer on leave after barroom incident

A Springfield police officer is on paid administrative leave after an incident last month at the Blue Grouch Pub in Sangamon County, which is bordered by land under city jurisdiction.

Deputies were called to the Maple Street bar shortly after 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 19 on a report of disorderly conduct – someone needed to be removed. The apparent target was standing outside, drunk and holding a dog, when deputies arrived, according to a Sangamon County sheriff’s report. He told deputies that he was OK and planned on going home.

A bartender told deputies that the man, whose name was redacted from reports provided by the sheriff’s office, had been harassing a patron and throwing things. He’d refused to leave when asked, the bartender said, and had told customers that he was a city cop. A bar patron said that he’d called him names and tried punching him, but missed – he said he wanted the incident documented, but did not want to press charges. The bartender told deputies that she didn’t want to make a report, but she wanted him to leave. A customer also told deputies that the man might have a gun. Deputies went outside and spoke again with the man they’d seen earlier.

“I asked (redacted) if he was carrying a handgun in his pocket,” a deputy wrote in his report.(Redacted) immediately got upset with me and he began cursing and calling us names. (Redacted) also refused to remove his hands from his pockets when deputies asked him to. (Redacted) was placed in handcuffs for everyone’s safety and for refusing to comply with deputies’ commands. (Redacted) did not resist while placing him in handcuffs but he continued to curse and call us inappropriate names.”

Supervisors from the city police department and county sheriff’s office were called. No one from the tavern wanted to press charges, and so deputies uncuffed him and left him at the tavern with supervisors.

Read more: https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/springfield-officer-on-leave-after-barroom-incident/Content?oid=13233576

The officer later stalked the customer and attempted to intimidate the bar owner.