FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2021
COPA CONCLUDES INVESTIGATION INTO RAID AT MS. AJANETTE YOUNG’S RESIDENCE BY CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) has concluded its investigation and delivered its report of findings and recommendations to the Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) for review regarding the February 21, 2019 raid at Ms. Anjanette Young’s residence as mandated by ordinance (Municipal Code of Chicago Chapter 2-78-145).
Over the past 16 months, COPA has conducted a thorough and detailed investigation of CPD members’ actions in both the acquisition and execution of the search warrant at Ms. Young’s home. COPA’s report describes significant deficiencies in CPD policy and training regarding officers’ acquisition and execution of search warrants. Several deficiencies COPA cited in its report were the subject of its prior public comments and recommendations to the Superintendent.
“The raid of Ms. Young’s home was truly painful to watch,” said COPA Chief Administrator Sydney Roberts. “Given the significance of this investigation, COPA assigned this case to a uniquely constructed 10 member team to evaluate the critical Fourth Amendment issues raised in this complaint. While we cannot fully heal the pain Ms. Young experienced on that day and ever since, we hope that our investigation and recommendations will enable the healing process.”
COPA’s investigation led to more than 30 interviews including officers, civilians, a member of the judiciary, an assistant state’s attorney and the Cook County Sheriff’s Department, as well as the review of hundreds of pages of documentary evidence and hours of video material relevant to this incident. The investigation produced nearly one hundred allegations of misconduct stemming from the actions of more than a dozen officers.
COPA’s investigation revealed that within entry to Ms. Young’s home, she was naked and immediately handcuffed. Within approximately 31 seconds after entry, an officer attempts to cover Ms. Young with a jacket and 14 seconds later covered her more fully with a blanket. Ms. Young remained handcuffed for nearly 10 minutes after which she was allowed to dress and then handcuffed again. In total, Ms. Young was handcuffed for nearly 17 minutes.
Prior to officers leaving her residence, Ms. Young was allowed to make a phone call and provided a copy of the search warrant. COPA’s Summary Report of Investigation reaches findings and recommendations on the appropriateness of these occurrences.
Over the course of the investigation, COPA issued three letters to CPD highlighting concerns about its Fourth Amendment training and search warrant acquisition and execution policies. COPA also reviewed and commented on CPD’s revised search warrant directives, contributing remarks to further enhance and clarify standards of officer conduct and increase post-execution review and accountability as well as improve operations by centralizing expertise, resources, and review chains, to address the unacceptable diffusion of responsibility. COPA strongly encourages CPD to afford the concerns raised regarding CPD’s Fourth Amendment training, search warrant acquisition and execution policies the attention equal to that given the investigative findings and recommendations set forth in the report.
COPA will post its report offering full detail of its analyses, findings, and recommendations on its website for public consideration upon the conclusion of the Superintendent’s review and after involved officers have been served with resulting charges by the City’s Department of Law.
Media Contact: Ephraim Eaddy – ephraim.eaddy@chicagocopa.org