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| Sean M. Harris |
So, out of all the officers charged, why do they only show the image of one officer?
09/21/2011
By PATRICK M. O'CONNELL
BELLEVILLE - Six police officers from departments in St. Clair County and one former police dispatcher were charged Wednesday with official misconduct, accused of an array of crimes including a forced sexual encounter with a woman, theft and state benefit fraud.
Three of the police officers work for Alorton. The other officers work for Washington Park, Fairview Heights and Belleville. The former dispatcher used to work for East St. Louis.
All of the official misconduct charges, filed in St. Clair County Circuit Court, are felonies.
The St. Clair County state's attorney's office will hold a joint news conference with the U.S. attorney's office at 10 a.m. Thursday in Belleville to further explain the charges.
State's attorney Brendan Kelly said in a statement Wednesday evening the arrests were part of an ongoing "public integrity operation." It was unclear if the incidents were in any way connected or whether they were simply a part of investigations focused on public corruption.
It was also unclear if any federal charges will be filed in connection with the arrests.
Those arrested are:
- Alorton officer Harry Halter, 51, of Cahokia, charged with one count of official misconduct. Halter is accused of pulling a woman over while he was off duty. He allegedly convinced the woman to perform oral sex on him to avoid being charged with driving with a suspended license. Court records state Halter also had been drinking at the time of the incident.
- Belleville officer Sean M. Harris, 31, of the 2100 block of Southern Oaks Circle in Belleville and a five-year veteran of the department. Harris is charged with battery and official misconduct stemming from an encounter with a man in June. The battery charge is a misdemeanor.
- Former dispatcher Shantez Lockett, 35, of East St. Louis. She is charged with two counts of official misconduct and one count each of aiding a fugitive, obstructing justice and obstructing a peace officer.
- Washington Park police officer Jeffrey L. Waters, 60, of Jerseyville, charged with one count of official misconduct and one count of theft. According to court documents, Waters is accused of theft for taking nine ballistics vests, valued at less than $500 total.
- Alorton officer Larry D. Greenlee, 39, of Belleville, charged with one count each of official misconduct and state benefit fraud greater than $300.
- Alorton officer and former East St. Louis officer Beverly Miles, 39, of Fairview Heights, charged with one count each of official misconduct and state benefit fraud.
- Fairview Heights officer Tina Presson, 43, of O'Fallon, Ill., charged with one count each of official misconduct and theft.
Six of seven were booked into the St. Clair County Jail on Wednesday and released on bond, according to jail officials. Waters was being transferred from the Jersey County jail to St. Clair County late Wednesday night.
In the Harris case, Capt. Don Sax said a Belleville man, Mark Bush, 55, filed a complaint against the officer on June 14 and that Harris has been on "in station" duty since then.
According to a probable cause statement filed with the St. Clair County Circuit Court, Harris dealt with Bush in an "insulting and provoking nature" and then "approached and shoved" him.
Bush and his wife Lee Ann Bush, 56, said they called police June 14 to report harassing phone calls. They claimed Harris refused to take their report, used vulgar language with them and started to leave.
The Bushes said that when they followed him outside their home to request a police supervisor to take the report and ask for Harris' name, Harris grabbed Mark Bush by the neck and threw him to the sidewalk.
They said they did not provoke or touch Harris.
Mark Bush said the attack triggered seizures from a prior medical condition and left cuts and bruises. His medical bills are approaching $30,000, Lee Ann Bush said.
They said they have a digital audio recording of the incident that they gave to police.
"If I did what he did, (police) would have put me in jail and charged me with a felony," Mark Bush said. "This guy shouldn't be on the police force. I know some of the guys on the police force and they're good guys. This isn't one of them."
Mark Bush said he was relieved charges were filed Wednesday but he thought it should not have taken three months.
Harris posted 10 percent of a $20,000 bail and remains on duty inside the Belleville police station only, police said.
