Man Resists EC Police & Attempts To Take Officers Gun
On Saturday 12/5/2020 at approximately 4:57 PM, Officer B. Lopez III of The East Chicago Police Department was on a traffic stop in the area of 3400 Guthrie Street when he heard a vehicle playing loud music, according to Deputy Chief Jose Rivera.
The music coming from the vehicle was so loud that the bass from the music began shaking Officer B. Lopez’s fully marked patrol vehicle’s windows alarming him that the vehicle was approaching from the rear. Officer B. Lopez then observed a red truck which was playing the loud music enter the parking lot of 3449 Guthrie Street. Officer B. Lopez initiated a traffic stop on the red truck in the parking lot. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle who was later identified as Willie J. Irvin exited the truck, looked directly at Officer B. Lopez grabbed some items from inside the truck and began to walk away from the traffic stop, Rivera stated.
Officer B. Lopez immediately exited his patrol vehicle and called out to the male driver (Willie Irvin), advising him that it was a traffic stop and to standby while Officer spoke with him about the reason for the stop. Upon speaking to Willie Irvin Officer Lopez asked for his identification to which Willie Irvin stated that it was inside the vehicle. Officer Lopez advised him to retrieve his identification. Officer Lopez stood next to Willie Irvin as he retrieved his identification from inside the vehicle. While standing outside the vehicle Officer Lopez could see in plain view an open canned container of an alcoholic beverage in the center cup holder. Officer Lopez also smelled an odor commonly associated with raw marijuana emitting from within the vehicle.
Officer B. Lopez asked Willie Irvin if Officers could take a look inside the vehicle. Willie Irvin stated there was no problem. Willie Irvin then became nervous and his speech began to speed up as he talked to officers. Officer B. Lopez then ordered Willie Irvin to stand in the rear of the truck. Willie Irvin then advised the officer that the vehicle wasn’t his and that he wanted to go inside.
Officer B. Lopez advised Willie Irvin that he was being detained and he immediately tensed up when officers grabbed his arm to handcuff him. Officer Laporta who was also on scene attempted to place Willie Irvin’s hands behind his back when he tensed up and became irate. Willie Irvin bladed his body in a fighting stance and would not allow Officers to detain him. Willie Irvin then pulled away from officers and ran shoving his way between Officer Lopez and Officer Laporta. Both Officers gave chase and both Officers and Willie Irvin fell to the ground in the parking lot due to the loose gravel, Rivera said. Willie Irvin pushed up from the ground and attempted to get up to flee again. Willie Irvin refused to comply with officers orders and continued to actively resist officers. While actively resisting Willie Irvin reached and grabbed Officer Lopez’s gun, which was still holstered. Officers then used the necessary force needed to get Willie Irvin to release his grip from Officer B. Lopez’s gun and to detain the actively resisting driver.
This incident was being recorded by a woman who was actively interfering during the struggle between Irvin and the two officers. The video has since been circulated on social media. Irvin reached out to news outlets as well as groups stating he was abused. The East Chicago Police Admin have reviewed that video. “This incident was escalated by Willie Irvin who you can clearly see in the video flee from our officers, actively resist and not comply with our officers,” Rivera told RNS.
Willie Irvin was eventually handcuffed and secured after the brief struggle. He was then escorted to a marked squad where he began to bang his head on the interior of the squad car. Willie Irvin was uncooperative and combative while being transported to the East Chicago Jail where he eventually calmed down and was booked for the following charges:
Battery on a Public Safety Official (Level 6 Felony)
Resisting Law Enforcement (Class A Misdemeanor)
Possession of Marijuana (Class B Misdemeanor)
Operation of a Motor Vehicle by an Unlicensed Driver (Class C Misdemeanor)
Violation of City Ordinance Citation: Loud Music
Violation of City Ordinance Citation: Open Container/Consumption of Alcohol in Vehicle
No charge for attempting to disarm a peace officer?