Rev. Michael James is accusing a Glencoe police officer of racial profiling, for ticketing him for riding his bike through a construction zone, while ignoring several white cyclists for doing the same thing. (Credit: CBS)
Reporting Lisa Fielding
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GLENCOE, Ill. (CBS) – An Evanston pastor has threatened to sue police in north suburban Glencoe, accusing one of its officers of racial profiling.
WBBM Newsradio’s Lisa Fielding reports Rev. Michael James said he was riding his bicycle on June 30, when a police officer stopped him and gave him a $25 ticket for riding through a construction zone, while ignoring several white cyclists doing the same thing.
“While the police officer was giving me the ticket, four white bikers within three feet of us slowly and casually rode by,” James said. “She claims that she did not, under any circumstance, see these bikers. That’s impossible.”
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Lisa Fielding reports
James said, within minutes of getting that ticket, he saw two more white cyclists ride through the same construction zone, right past the same officer’s car, and she did not stop them or ticket them. He said it was a clear case of racial profiling.
“I probably will never bike through Glencoe again, because the treatment that I received, I can’t even describe it, for a biker that was simply out training for the Chicago Marathon,” he said.
James and his attorney met with Glencoe’s village manager and police chief over the incident. He said the meeting went well, but he still plans to file a federal civil rights lawsuit.
Glencoe city officials said they’re investigating the allegations. They’ll meet with James again next week.
