The political tension is escalating in Harvey after an alderwoman was arrested Thursday night due to an incident at a city council meeting in late April.
Colby Chapman is charged with aggravated battery of a police officer, which she claims is political retaliation after she launched a bid for mayor.
Chapman was in court and released from custody Thursday.
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This marks the fourth instance since October where Colby Chapman has faced legal issues related to her role as a Harvey alderwoman. While three prior misdemeanor charges were dismissed, she is now confronting felony charges.
Chapman left the Markham Courthouse after being released from custody. She was accompanied by supporters, maintaining her composure and confidence after a night spent in jail.
“This whole thing is so egregious and heinous simply because I was advocating for a resident’s home being sold for $2,000,” Chapman said.
The charges stem from the April 28 Harvey city council meeting, where Chapman was seen pushing away a police officer’s arm and then pulling away when he grabbed her wrist to remove her from the meeting for being disruptive. Video of the incident was provided by the city of Harvey.
Chapman was initially charged with misdemeanor, disorderly conduct, battery to a police officer and resisting arrest, which were dropped on Wednesday.
Outside the city hall that same night, police body camera video shows Chapman cursing at another officer, her wrists handcuffed behind her back.
Thursday night, charges were upgraded to felony aggravated battery to a police officer, and Chapman turned herself in to Harvey police.
“Yesterday’s arrest coming on the very day Ms. Colby Chapman announced her candidacy for mayor is no coincidence,” Chapman’s attorney Daniel Olswang said. “It is a blatant and deeply troubling act of political retaliation. This is not justice, this is political persecution.”
“My advocacy is disrupting the issues in the city of Harvey,” Chapman said.
The city of Harvey denied any political motivation behind the charges, noting the charging decision was made by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office, adding “Any attempt to politicize this legal determination is a distraction from the underlying facts: an elected official physically assaulted a police officer while resisting lawful orders.”
“I honestly would believe that these are just tactics of scare tactics, silencing her, to make her not actually pursue her efforts of becoming mayor,” said Johnathan Johnson with Holy Bible Missionary Baptist Church.
Chapman said she will not be intimidated and will definitely not be silenced.
Chapman is due back in court for a preliminary hearing June 23. The next regularly-scheduled city council meeting is scheduled for Monday.
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