Bench trial set for Joliet woman's obstructing officer case

A trial has been scheduled in January for Konika Morrow over a misdemeanor charge of obstructing a police officer, court records show.

A trial by judge is set for 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 25, court records show. Morrow faces a charge of obstructing a police officer for walking toward Joliet Police Officer Alan Vertin "after being told to stay back," court records show.

Morrow’s charge stems from an incident at a prayer vigil on July 9, 2019, at Sacred Heart Church in Joliet. The vigil was interrupted by officers pursuing an ATV and a dirt bike.

Joliet police said the officers pulled over one of the bikers, Joshwa Cooley, Morrow's nephew, and a "large crowd from the church came over and told Cooley not to talk to the police, and it was OK to ride ATVs in the street."

Police said the crowd threatened the officers and made "racial/derogatory remarks." Jamaica Morrow, who was at the vigil, insisted that did not happen.

Police said Konika Morrow refused to stay back from the officers, yelled at them and "attempted to hit the officer with her arm."

Konika Morrow has filed a federal lawsuit against Vertin, Joliet Police Officer Adam Stapleton and Sgt. Javier Esqueda.

Her lawsuit claimed she complied with officers' commands to back away from Cooley and the motorcycle, but Stapleton tackled her without any warning.

Her lawsuit said Stapleton's tackle caused her injury. When she told Esqueda that she needed an ambulance, Esqueda said, "Get the baby an ambulance," in a mocking voice, the suit said.

Konika Morrow's lawsuit claimed officers fabricated a false report to cover up Stapleton's "wrongful takedown" of her and that she was deprived of her right to due process and a fair trial.

"Absent this misconduct, the criminal prosecution could not and would not have been pursued," the lawsuit said.

Court records show attorneys for the city of Joliet denied Konika Morrow’s allegations and claimed Stapleton took her “to the ground over a curb” after she had “swung her elbow at the officer and otherwise resisted and obstructed his duties.”