During a forum Monday, the five candidates for mayor of Little Rock - Frank Scott Jr., Baker Kurrus, Warwick Sabin, Glen Schwarz, and Vincent Tolliver - were asked about a recent Washington Post article detailing alleged illegal drug raids in Little Rock.
The article describes how the Little Rock Police Department raided the apartment of a 31-year-old barber, Roderick Talley, after one of the department's informants alleged that he bought cocaine from Talley.
According to the Associated Press, Roderick Talley said police used explosives to enter his apartment in August 2017 in an ultimately unsuccessful search for cocaine. Talley's lawyers say police lied to obtain a "no-knock" arrest warrant by alleging they saw an informant engage in a drug deal with Talley days before.
Talley and his lawyers say they believe the narcotics division raided dozens of other apartments using fraudulent affidavits.
Canidates Frank Scott Jr., Warwick Sabin, and Baker Kurrus said they issued statements in response to the Washington Post article. Scott also said he sent a letter to the Department of Justice about the drug raids.
The mayoral candidates were asked to repsond to the following question: The Washington Post published an article over the weekend outlining questionable search warrant practices by Little Rock police. In many instances, police have used information from informants to issue "no-knock" warrants to enter homes by force in search for drugs, often using explosive charges. Many of these raids have failed to turn up significant amount of illegal drugs or, in many cases, any illegal substances whatsoever. What do you think should be done about these practices, if anything, and what can be done to reduce crime in Little Rock while protecting the constitutional rights of citizens?
Scott said the raids are a disgusting issue in Little Rock.
"It's appalling. As a black man it's something that's not neccerasily new," he said. "If Roderick Talley did not have a video recording at that point in time, if he did not have a lawyer, he would be in jail today. That is an issue."
Scott pointed to his citizens' review commission board in his public safety agenda as a way to hold local law enforcement accountable. Scott also stressed that the city needs to increase its police force from 593 to 700 and increase the police budget by $10 million.
Baker Kurrus said the incident is very concerning and needs to be reviewed systematically.
"That matter will be on the mayor's desk on January 1. I doubt it will be resolved by then," he said. "I certainly understand from the article that a lawsuit may have already been filed. We have to make very certain that our policies are sound, our procceses and procedures are sound, that our tactics are only utilized strictly in accordance with law, and that we have a complete review every time we have a problem."
Kurrus also said there is a process for systematic review within the police department, but he is not sure if that process was utilized in this case.
Warwick Sabin said the incident clearly violates citizens' Fourth Amendment rights and that trust needs to be restored in law enforcement. Sabin also said as mayor he would immediately call for a full and transparent investigation as he mentioned on Twitter.
"We also have to understand the greater context here. We have a situation around the country where people are losing faith in how law enforcement is being applied," he said. "This particular article mentioned that communities of color were basically vicitmized by this practice overwhelmingly and disproportionately. We have to build faith back up with our own community before we can even have the opportunity to make this city a safer place."
Glen Schwarz said the article is indicitave of a larger problem and used one of his main policy goals, the decriminalization of marijuana, to pose a possible solution.
"To take that nonviolent crime away from the police having to enforce that... " he said. "I would also like to expand that... to all drug crimes. These people should not be getting sentences longer than the people that are committing real and violent crimes."
Vincent Tolliver said the Little Rock Police Department has a problem with its search and seizure practices.
"According to this article, it's illegal. Out of the 133 affidavits judges signed off on, 110 were for African Americans. That's wrong, it's unconscionable," he said. "I don't have to wait until I'm mayor of Little Rock to call for an investigation. We need an investigation right now. The city manager, Bruce Moore, needs to be called into account and also [Little Rock Police] Chief [Kenton] Buckner."
In a rebuttal, Scott said he appreciated Sabin issuing a statement but wishes he would have talked to Talley first.
"Don't just give lip service, actually do something like I did by sending a letter to the Department of Justice first."
The Associated Press reported a city spokesman says Little Rock police fully comply with state and federal civil rights law in response to the lawsuit brought by Talley.
You can listen to the entire forum on general topics here.