DES MOINES—
As police are investigating a rash of what could be racially motivated attacks near the Iowa State Fair, they're also investigating one of their own officers.One of the attacks occurred on August 14 in the parking lot of Gerry's bar. Witness Brian Ray Fees, a bartender at Gerry's Bar, says the attackers were beating the victim while shouting racial slurs. "Just kill the white dude. Kick his butt. That kind of thing. A lot of expletives too," Fees says.
Hoover High School basketball player Reginald White was identified by the victim and witnesses as the ringleader of the attack and arrested. But according to police reports obtained by Channel 13 News, Police Sergeant Lillie Miller called the arresting officer and asked him to release White with just a ticket. When the officer refused, according to the report, Sgt. Miller replied, "Fine, I will just bond him out." And, police say, that's what Miller did.
Now, Miller is being disciplined for not going through the proper channels in White's arrest. Police will not say what that discipline entails. "Right now she is speaking with the assistant chiefs and that's all internal. I can't disclose that," says police spokeswoman Lori Lavorato, "But there will be disciplinary action taken." Lavorato says it does not appear Miller was asking for any type of preferential treatment for White, who police say is a friend of Miller's son.
