SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Demonstrators are currently gathered outside the Municipal Center East building in Springfield to demand accountability from the Springfield Police Department.
The protest, originally organized by Intricate Minds, is meant to address multiple issues regarding policing in Springfield, most recently the case of a retired Springfield Police Sergeant who severely injured two people on a motorcycle last week.
ISP said a vehicle driven by 50-year-old Michael A. Egan of Springfield was going north on E. Lake Shore Dr. while a motorcycle was traveling south. Troopers said Egan failed to yield the right of way and made a left turn in front of the motorcycle.
Egan was cited and a DUI investigation was started. In a news release, the department said it's conducting an internal investigation to ensure that all policies and procedures were adhered to by Springfield Police personnel at the scene. Egan was charged with aggravated DUI on Monday.
Last Wednesday night, Springfield officers returned fire and shot a 19-year-old man who had fired in the direction of officers while they were trying to arrest him for a shooting that took place earlier that day. During a news conference on Thursday, police chief Ken Scarlette said that medical care was given to the man within 26 seconds of the shooting. He was then taken to a hospital for treatment. The officers involved were placed on administrative leave.
Demonstrators at the protest showed their support of the two crash victims with signs and t-shirts. There were also signs demanding justice for Sonya Massey, a Springfield woman who was killed in her home by a Sangamon County Sheriff's deputy during a 911 call. The former deputy Sean Grayson has been charged with murder.
WAND News has a crew at the protest and will update this story.
Copyright 2024. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
