Aurora police dropped criminal charges against an Aurora man after a video of his arrest was met with criticism on social media.
In the video posted to Facebook, Jabari Walker is seen getting arrested at his house on the city’s West Side Tuesday around 8:30 p.m. after his children were playing outside with snaps they bought from a local dollar store.
The video shows him get handcuffed and escorted to a police squad car after he refused to give police his ID or his name. Walker said he was charged with resisting arrest and child endangerment.
“This morning, we reviewed the incident with the arresting officer and then had a dynamic conversation with the resident and his family,” city officials said in a statement Wednesday.
While the officer had the authority to make the arrest, officials said the city, along with the officer, are in agreement to use discretion and not pursue the matter further.
Walker’s wife, Melanie, said her son, 9, and nephews, 5 and 10, were playing with water balloons and snaps. She said the officer told them to stop setting off fireworks and continued to walk past the family’s home on the 700 block of Charles Street.
When Jabari Walker came to the front of the house, the officer turned and followed him, asking to see his identification, Melanie said.
Snaps, also known as trick noisemakers or party poppers, are legal and not considered fireworks, according to state law.
“I had no idea snaps were causing so many problems,” Jabari Walker said. “These problems are not stopping. Officers continue to harass our community and they are household names who have been bugging us since the ’90s.”
While the charges are dropped, Walker said he is still upset because the Department of Child and Family Services was contacted and has now opened its own investigation.
Aurora resident Andy Williams Jr., who helped organize the protest Sunday outside the Aurora Police Department focusing on the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, scheduled another protest outside the police department Wednesday afternoon.
Several pastors stood outside the police department, peacefully praying as a larger group gathered. Jabari Walker also attended. The group was then joined by police officers, including Police Chief Kristen Ziman and Deputy Chief Keith Cross, who listened as residents shared their feelings.
By 5:45 p.m., Ziman was surrounded by a crowd of people asking for specifics into Jabari Walker’s arrest and police accountability. Ziman continued to say the officer saw two young kids in the middle of the street and was not sure what kind of fireworks they were playing with.
Since 1991, the department has changed, and officers are trying their best to change a culture, Ziman said.
“Respect is the thing that we are trying to institute,” Ziman said. “We’ve had many conversations amongst police officers about justice, fundamental fairness and equity. The only way we can build trust is by having these conversations.”
Ziman said the department is using a relatively new mechanism to monitor complaints against officers. If someone has a large number of complaints, the department will launch an investigation.
She also urged people who do not feel comfortable making a complaint with the department to contact the city’s Human Rights Commission which will independently investigate an issue.
mejones@chicagotribune.com
