COPS, FAMILY TELL DIFFERENT STORIES IN FRIDAY ARREST OF MINISTER'S SON

Standing on a West Side street corner prowled by drug dealers, the commander
of the Harrison Police Districton Monday defended the weekend arrest of a
minister's son, saying allegations that the man was beaten and framed by
police are untrue.

"We're not going to be soft on people who sell cocaine or heroin in this
district," Cmdr. Claudell Ervin insisted, addressing the media at Flournoy
Street and Springfield Avenue. "No matter who they are, we have to take the
offensive to arrest them."

In going before TV cameras, Ervin appeared to be trying to suppress yet
another allegation of police brutality against an unarmed African-American.

On Friday, the namesake of Rev. Floyd James Sr. of the West Side Greater
Rock Baptist Church was arrested near that same corner and charged with drug
possession, resisting arrest and battery to a police officer. Police said
they observed him exchanging cash with an unidentified woman in what
appeared to be a drug deal. Ervin said officers later recovered eight
packets of heroin and 12 rocks of cocaine that they say had been dropped on
the street.

The family of Floyd James Jr. vehemently denies the allegations, saying
police dragged the Northern Illinois University sophomore into an unmarked
police car and beat him as they searched him for drugs. Finding none, the
family said, the officers, who were white, became outraged when James Jr.
tried to record the number of the police vehicle. A scuffle ensued at the
church door along with James Jr.'s sister and aunt, who also were charged
with hitting and obstructing a police officer.

Lewis Myers Jr., attorney for the James family, said he was insulted that
Ervin would take to the street corner in "a public relations stunt" to talk
about drug trafficking.

"The issue here is the lawlessness of those individuals under his command,"
Myers said.

Ervin insisted that his officers nabbed the correct man, even as he called
for residents with information about the incident to report it to the Police
Department's Office of Professional Standards, which investigates
allegations of police misconduct.

"We're not trying to cover up anything," he said. "We're trying to get the
truth."

No disciplinary action has been taken against the two officers involved,
though they are off duty recovering from injuries from the fight, Ervin said.

He declined to identify them but said they are part of an elite tactical
team accustomed to spotting drug deals. He said they have more than four
years' experience on the streets.

At the time of the incident, he said, the officers were in uniform making
"well-being checks" on elderly people during the hot weather.

James' attorney disputed that, saying the officers were not in uniform.

"It's not the first time law enforcement officers are known to have
fabricated stories about what has happened," Myers said.