Lawyers Seek To Preserve O'Dekirk Evidence During Investigation

JOLIET, IL — Lawyers Lawrence O’Reilly and Michael Baker announced at a news conference on Monday afternoon that they have filed paperwork for preservation of evidence in the cases of their clients Victor Williams and Jamal Smith, the two men involved with an altercation involving Mayor Bob O'Dekirk and several officers at the Joliet Police Department.

“We want to preserve all evidence related to this incident,” Baker said at Joliet City Hall, 150 W. Jefferson St.

On May 31, Mayor Bob O’Dekirk is seen pulling a black man down to the ground during the Black Lives Matter protests in a video that has been widely circulated. Once that man, later identified as Williams, is brought over toward a Joliet Police Department car, the police officers can be seen beating him. His brother, Smith, is seen on the video as well.

Baker emphasized that while many in the city have taken a side as to whether they want to see O’Dekirk resign over the incident, he did not want to see the case forget what the Joliet Police Officers are seen doing.

“They are throwing down rainmakers,” Baker said in an interview after the news conference describing the manner in which police punched Williams while he was on the ground.

Both men were hospitalized after the incident although both O'Reilly and Baker declined to share details of their clients' injuries.

The investigation into O’Dekirk was turned over to the Illinois State Police, but the charges against Williams and Smith remain unknown.

According to O’Reilly, the bond paperwork on both men indicated charges of aggravated assault and mob action. But as of Monday, those charges have not been officially filed.

O’Reilly also noted that the request for turning over their clients’ cases to the Illinois State Police was inspired by an unlikely phone call.

“I was a little encouraged that it was the Chief of Police who called to ask me to ask for the independent investigation,” he said, referencing Joliet Police Chief Al Roechner.

During the news conference, the lawyers explained what they saw on the video.

“In the moments leading up to the video, where Mr. Williams is walking in a direction down the street and you could see Mayor O’Dekirk standing there. .. and the video shows him walking behind Mr. Williams and sort of instructing people to go home,” Baker said. “Our clients' video doesn’t exactly show exactly what was exchanged in terms of words, but the next thing you know, (O’Dekirk) grabs (Williams) by the area around his neck and pushes him back violently and ultimately they all end up on the ground.”

O’Reilly clarified that Williams was grabbed as trying to explain to O’Dekirk that he was walking a different way than instructed so that he could meet up with his brother.

He also added that if a citizen had done what O’Dekirk did, they would have been charged with a crime.

“The focus of this investigation should be on the mayor and his actions and as Michael pointed out, we have directed a letter to the chief of police asking that an independent investigation take place by the state police,” O’Reilly said. “We believe if they do that, charges should and will be dismissed against our clients and charges should seriously be considered against the mayor.”

O’Reilly also noted that Williams was wearing a mask during the incident and could not have spit on O’Dekirk.

Although there has been discussion as to whether O'Dekirk was wearing a Joliet Police Department hat that night, that has not been confirmed. O'Reilly and Baker did confirm that on that night, neither Williams nor Smith knew that the man in question was the mayor.

Both lawyers also confirmed that they are in possession of additional videos from that night, but they are not releasing those yet.

"We just want to make sure we review everything we have and responsibly release it," Baker said after the press conference.

If the charges are not dropped, Williams and Smith have a court date on July 2 in Will County.