MCDONALD Complaint against police follows raid on teen party

The chief is checking statements from residents and the officers.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
McDONALD -- Village officials are investigating a resident's allegation that her grandson and other youths were harassed and roughed up by police officers.
The allegation stems from a call police received Friday to a party attended by about eight village teenagers.
Deborah Taylor of Hayes Street filed a complaint Monday with Mayor James W. Border and Police Chief Lou Ronghi, saying officers who broke up her grandson's party swore at the teens, bullied their way into the home and were so rough in handling one juvenile that they left him with cuts on his wrists from handcuffs and a lump on his head.
Under review
Border said Tuesday he had received statements from Taylor, her grandson and neighbors. He declined to comment further, saying all of the statements had been turned over to Ronghi for his investigation.
Ronghi said Wednesday he had received the statements and was interviewing the officers involved. "It's all being investigated, and we are working to get all sides of the story," he said.
He added he could not comment further because the case involves juveniles. He did confirm that a 17-year-old boy from the party was taken to a hospital but was then transferred to the Juvenile Justice Center for a parole violation.
Taylor said Wednesday the case is the latest in a long line of harassment by police toward her grandson, of whom she has custody, and his friends.
"This just never, never stops," she said. "They are continuously harassed and followed and stopped. Every time they stop my grandson, they search him, but they never find anything."
Thinks it's retaliation
Now, she says, the police are turning on her for complaining. Taylor says she was cited on a village ordinance against keeping a disorderly house. She believes it's retaliation for speaking out.
Ronghi said the summons to mayor's court was issued to Taylor on Tuesday, but paperwork had started Friday night, before her complaint.
He said officers were unable to complete the paperwork Friday night. When they returned to work after Monday's holiday, they issued the citation, he said.
Ronghi was unable to say when the investigation into Taylor's allegations would be complete.
slshaulis@vindy.com