Rockford Scanner has tried several times to get the other side of this story, from Sgt Lewis and also the police. But they have yet to respond to us. If they do, we will update this.
To everyone saying that we need both sides of the story. We HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR A WEEK NOW to get some kind of statement or something from the police and the YMCA. We have tried NUMEROUS times to get the 2nd half of the story. The police and the YMCA have chosen NOT to tell their side, hence why there is the one side. We have reached out numerous times. And not a peep. And I am not going to let this war veterans story go untold, because someone refuses to tell their side. This veteran deserves to have his story told.
Local War Veteran Harassed By Local Police Officer At The YMCA
A local war veteran said he was harassed by a local police officer, as he worked out at the YMCA with his service dog.
He has served 3 combat tours in Iraq while serving our country as a US Marine Corps and has experienced and saw a lot of stuff during that time.
2003, 2004-05 Fallujah, 2005-2006 Fallujah & Ramadi
He suffers from PTSD, back injuries, tbi, balance issues, light sensitivity.
He sent us the following in regards to the incident that happened:
“On Feb 25th at approx 10 am I was working out at the Iron Works Ymca with my service dog, as I am a disabled war veteran.
As I was working out I noticed during my set that my dog was being harassed as he sat up and started staring at a person. I removed my headphones and realized that Sgt Lewis was distracting my dog by calling him names and whistling at him to try to get his photo.
I told him next time ask for a picture or I will break his phone.
He laughed said it was a public place and that he was a Beloit cop and could do whatever he wanted.
I kindly told him 1. This isn’t a public place as you have to be a member so that makes it private and 2. that I didn’t care who he was and that he was jeopardizing my safety by distracting my service dog .
He laughed and went to the other side of the machine I was on and continued to take pics trying to get my dogs attention and saying “Your not a disabled veteran, you don’t look disabled, what do I need a dog for.
So I then started to get anxious and proceeded down to the lobby to get a manager . After telling the 2 lady managers there they knew exactly who he was.
After I asked them to call the police for harassment, they said oh we wont do that, we will just tell him to stop. So I called 911 and asked for an officer and relayed what this guy said, he was a cop and I wanted to file a report.
Once the officer showed up I noticed my anxiety getting worse as Sgt Lewis kept walking back and forth too look down trying to intimidate me.
So i asked for medic. Because I was possibly having a medical issue. Once medics came they were able to get me calm say I was ok now and I signed a refusal.
Once they left a Sgt for Beloit pd came and they verified Sgt Lewis was not a Beloit cop but a Sgt with Roscoe pd.
I immediately called Roscoe PD and talked with deputy chief Lee and be had me come into the pd to show a pic to, he said would be handled.
After numerous calls to see what was done about the situation, I am being ignored and told to file a complaint. My wife and I are extremely pissed at how this supposed Sgt Lewis was able to harass a disabled veteran and nothing was done about it.
I was ignored by the staff at the ymca because the 2 managers know the Sgt personally and when I mentioned their policy on harassment, they said there was nothing they could do.
Not only that but when I was being seen by medics and through the whole ordeal, not once did they come to see how I was but went to chat withe their Sgt. friend. Very unprofessional and to me showed who they care about more
I am now afraid to go to the YMCA because of my PTSD and anxiety and workout now, because of this harassment incident”
Police report: BE1908058
Rockford Scanner has tried several times to get the other side of this story, from Sgt Lewis and also the police. But they have yet to respond to us. If they do, we will update this.
To everyone saying that we need both sides of the story. We HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR A WEEK NOW to get some kind of statement or something from the police and the YMCA. We have tried NUMEROUS times to get the 2nd half of the story. The police and the YMCA have chosen NOT to tell their side, hence why there is the one side. We have reached out numerous times. And not a peep. And I am not going to let this war veterans story go untold, because someone refuses to tell their side. This veteran deserves to have his story told.
