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Raided town’s cops clear out municipal building after super-brief village meeting

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* Patrick Elwood at WGN

Residents in Lyons left a City Hall meeting frustrated Tuesday evening. The meeting came just days after the town’s City Hall was raided by federal agents.

The village’s monthly public meeting started at 7 p.m. and was over by 7:06 p.m. Those residents who wanted to say a few words were not allowed to speak.

The FBI raided the town halls of Lyons, McCook and Summit, and just days before that, raided the Cicero and Springfield offices of Sen. Martin Sandoval. […]

As a WGN reporter interviewed Earl Johnson, a Lyons resident who is an outspoken critic of Mayor Christopher Getty, a man who residents said is an ally of Getty walked by and spilled soda as the on-camera interview was conducted. He then set off his car alarm.

* Some on-scene tweets from the BGA…


Lyons Mayor Chris Getty, other officials hid in this room after tonight's board meeting. Last week, the FBI raided Lyons Village Hall, Getty's insurance business/campaign HQ, and the parent company of the donor that gave his campaign $100k. Read our story: https://t.co/DPeWDWwkgU pic.twitter.com/nT2xheZSRQ

— Casey Toner (@ctoner) October 2, 2019

Final note: a member of the Lyons zoning board, who rents his barbershop/apartment from the village and collects signatures for the mayor's party, walked by a @WGNRadioNews interview and poured a soft drink on the sidewalk. Then he set off his car alarm to disrupt the set

— Casey Toner (@ctoner) October 2, 2019

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 10:34 am

Comments

  1. Politics as usual for the area. Machines (and nepotism) don’t sleep, but they do hide when they’re chased. Tough guy charade falls quickly.

    Comment by Sean Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 10:38 am

  2. its just so bizarre. i really hope the feds make quick work of this nonsense and clean up this corruption. taxpayers deserve a government that works for them!

    Comment by 32nd warder Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 10:39 am

  3. Hard choices ahead for many of these politicos. In particular, “When do I turn to become a state witness?” Because being the last one to turn has absolutely no value.

    Comment by Downstate Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 10:42 am

  4. Nothing says “I’m innocent” like hiding in the back room.

    Comment by Montrose Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 10:50 am

  5. Maybe attorneys advised them, for their own protection, not to say anything?

    Sure it’s against everything an open meeting should be, and governing, but FBI raids will do that.

    If they’re lucky, they’ll get to speak to the Feds to get on the bus first and fast.

    Now, if it’s too late for bus riding and talking…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 10:54 am

  6. Montrose with the base-clearer.

    Maybe the smart thing to do legally, but man oh man, does that look bad to the citizenry.

    Comment by efudd Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:00 am

  7. The Citizens for Christopher Getty Candidate Committee spent $115,923 at the Oak Brook Gibsons. He does have good taste in restaurants !

    https://illinoissunshine.org/committees/citizens-for-christopher-getty-22589/

    Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:00 am

  8. Goons gonna goon.

    Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:02 am

  9. Good work to Casey Toner for keeping a close eye on the plethora of shady small towns around the Chicagoland area

    Comment by NIU Grad Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:05 am

  10. It’s really easy not to say anything. At the beginning of the meeting, have the mayor make a brief statement on how they cannot comment on pending investigations. Let the people say whatever they want to say. And have no response other than, “thank you.” And have no further comment on the matter. Or you can make everyone look like complete clowns. I guess they think that’ll work out for some bizarre reason I can’t fathom, because you know people are going to talk to the media if they can’t talk to the mayor and council.

    Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:07 am

  11. “…spilled soda as the on-camera interview was conducted. He then set off his car alarm.”

    Such a lame and infantile move. Did he really expect this to prevent anything from being reported?

    Comment by Cubs in '16 Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:10 am

  12. As a famous anchorman would say, “Stay classy Lyons.”

    Comment by don the legend Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:10 am

  13. -Ducky- truer words were never spoken.

    Comment by NoGifts Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:37 am

  14. ===It’s really easy not to say anything. At the beginning of the meeting, have the mayor make a brief statement on how they cannot comment on pending investigations. Let the people say whatever they want to say. And have no response other than, “thank you.” And have no further comment on the matter. Or you can make everyone look like complete clowns. I guess they think that’ll work out for some bizarre reason I can’t fathom, because you know people are going to talk to the media if they can’t talk to the mayor and council.===

    Exactly this. Also, that’s insane campaign money for a village of 10,000 and some hefty campaign donations for a small town.

    Comment by Shemp Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:44 am

  15. ==Such a lame and infantile move. Did he really expect this to prevent anything from being reported?==
    Why didn’t Casey Toner report the name of this guy - is he a minor?

    Comment by Robert the Bruce Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 11:59 am

  16. Beards. All the beards.

    Comment by LizPhairTax Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 12:01 pm

  17. I’m not in any way excusing what happened, but only the BGA could refer to what I presume was the board’s executive session as hiding in a conference room.

    Comment by Father Ted Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 1:13 pm

  18. Arent local governments supposed to have a public comment period on their agenda for members of the public to address the board?

    Comment by mcdouble Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 3:10 pm

  19. ===I’m not in any way excusing what happened, but only the BGA could refer to what I presume was the board’s executive session as hiding in a conference room.===

    Even if there were a closed session, the board still needs to adjourn the meeting in open session. They can’t meet in closed session then sneak out.

    Comment by Shemp Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 3:20 pm

  20. Wow, Getty really did get into the family business. His dad did time, too.

    Comment by In 630 Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 3:53 pm

  21. I believe that’s called an illegal closed meeting.

    Comment by Downstate Illinois Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 4:16 pm

  22. I doubt there was much discussion in the closed board room. The fear of listening devices had to be on all their minds.

    Comment by Downstate Wednesday, Oct 2, 19 @ 4:21 pm

  23. When will the offices of British owned Camelot; manager of the Illinois Lottery, be raided?

    Comment by Quicksand Thursday, Oct 3, 19 @ 5:00 am

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