By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
CHAPEL HILL – Following up on a decision last week to seek an outside investigator to report on incidents surrounding the Nov. 13 raid of the former Yates Motor Co building, the Chapel Hill Community Policing Advisory Committee on Tuesday formalized that request, voting unanimously to petition the town council for necessary funding.
The request, which the town council will hear at its meeting on Monday, follows the council’s referral of the review to the CPAC at its meeting last week, where council members voted not to consider a measure proposing an independent review of the events.
Town Manager Roger Stancil had recommended the referral of the review to the CPAC in his report on the Yates incident, which stated that the actions of police were the best decisions that could have been made given the information available at the time.
However, CPAC members said they felt they needed the assistance of an outside investigator to adequately review the incident, noting the extensive time involved in interviewing involved parties.
Concerns have been raised about the police’s response to the occupation of the building, which began the night of Nov. 12 – led, reportedly, by attendees of the Carrboro Anarchist Bookfair – and resulted in a dramatic encounter with police the afternoon of Nov. 13, with seven arrests.
Committee Deputy Vice Chair Jessica Smith said the investigator is needed “to develop the necessary factual record … upon which the committee could base its review.â€
“We do not make this request lightly, and we fully understand the financial constraints the council faces,†she added.
Residents have questioned the police’s failure to communicate with those inside the building prior to the raid, in which a police Special Emergency Response Team brandished long-range rifles and detained those on the sidewalk outside the entrance of the building, including two journalists, before rushing inside.
The committee’s request, which was drafted by Smith, does not include a cost estimate of hiring an investigator. On Tuesday, Smith said that from her discussions with various professionals, she assumed that the $15,000 figure she stated at last week’s meeting would be on the lower end of the cost spectrum.
Smith said last week that Stancil’s report “was one-sided in that the only people that appear to have been consulted in connection with the internal review were members of the police and related agencies.†The committee’s request notes the need to interview eyewitnesses and people who were inside the building and to address a number of unanswered questions regarding the incident.
Committee member Roscoe Reeve also noted the importance of the cooperation of both Stancil and police Chief Chris Blue with a potential investigator.
“In a worst-case scenario, they could both say no,†he said.
However, board Chair Ron Bogle said that given his communications with them regarding the incident, he felt they were likely to cooperate.
Committee member Anita Badrock said she wanted to be sure that the request didn’t appear to be asking the town to compel its employees to speak to an investigator, given that staff members could be concerned about legal action taken against them.
“If the town staff does not speak or declines to be interviewed, that in and of itself is an important part of the public record,†she said.
Media communication halted
Last week, Stancil released a statement that town employees were not to speak with the media regarding the Yates incident.
“Out of respect for the process that began by the referral of the Yates Motor Company review to the Community Policing Advisory Board, and the Board’s subsequent discussion about a process they could follow, the Town staff will temporarily refrain from individual media interviews about the Yates Motor Company incident,†Stancil stated, further noting that media questions should be routed through the committee.
“This approach supports a transparent process and the desires of the Council, and the community for a full and open exchange of information on this issue.â€