Cop Cited for Intimidating Pro-Life Advocate at Chicago-Area Planned Parenthood
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 16, 2009
Aurora, IL (LifeNews.com) — A Chicago police officer was cited in a report for intimidating a pro-life advocate helping counsel women outside a Planned Parenthood abortion business in Aurora. The officer was written up for disorderly conduct after flashing his badge at the pro-life sidewalk counselor, who says he also brandished his gun.
Rachelle Crile, a 31-year-old Naperville woman had been outside the abortion center for about an hour when saw a car with two people that appeared to be heading to the facility.
Crile told the Fox Valley Sun newspaper that she approached the car with pro-life literature and that the man driving the car threatened her with a handgun.
"I’m very shaken up. It’s a very shocking thing to happen," Crile said.
The driver, a 41-year-old male and the passenger, a 31-year-old female, then went into the Aurora Planned Parenthood. After Crile contacted police, they entered the facility to question them.
"(The driver) was an off-duty Chicago police officer,” Aurora Police spokesman Dan Ferrelli told the newspaper.
Ferrelli told the paper that there were no charges filed against the officer because his story differed with Crile’s version of events.
“When (Crile) approached the car, her story is that he displayed a handgun,” Ferrelli said. “His story is that he showed her his badge."
Ferrelli told the newspaper that Crile was referred to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office in case she wishes to pursue the incident further.
However, later in the day, the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper indicated the officer was cited for disorderly conduct for flashing his badge.
The paper indicated the citation was not a charge but a report to document the incident and verify that he was an off-duty police officer.
LifeNews.com has contacted local pro-life advocates, including the Pro-Life Action League, for additional information about the incident but has not heard back.
The Aurora Planned Parenthood is the new super-sized abortion business that was recently built under scrutiny as Aurora city officials were accused of violating building and zoning laws to allow its completion.
Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com
Daily Pro-Life News Report Twice-Weekly Pro-Life
News Report Receive a free daily email report from LifeNews.com with the latest pro-life news stories on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here. Receive a free twice-weekly email report with the latest pro-life news headlines on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.
