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US officer quits after harassment over Puerto Rico shirt Puerto Rico flag row prompts hate crime case for Illinois man
(about 2 hours later)
A US police officer has quit amid an inquiry into his response to a woman who was racially harassed while wearing a Puerto Rican flag shirt . A man who was recorded haranguing a woman for wearing a Puerto Rico flag shirt at an Illinois park has been charged with a hate crime.
Mobile video shows the officer, Patrick Connor, appearing to ignore the woman's pleas that he intervene as a white man repeatedly jabs his finger at her. Timothy Trybus, 62, was previously charged with disorderly conduct and assault.
"Officer, I feel highly threatened," she says, as Mr Connor turns his back and walks towards his patrol car. He allegedly demanded to know if a Latina picnicker was a US citizen in last month's incident.
The incident took place last month in a public park in the Chicago suburbs. A police officer who was filmed standing by as Mia Irizarry, 24, pleaded for his help has quit.
The Forest Preserve District of Cook County Police Department - where Mr Connor worked for 12 years - announced that he had resigned late on Wednesday. Mr Trybus faces a bail hearing on Friday on two counts of felony hate crime.
At a press conference on Thursday, Superintendent Arnold Randall said that Mr Connor was "very remorseful" when he resigned but that the officer considered it "an unfortunate incident" and felt that he was not "given a fair shake". Ms Irizarry used her mobile phone to film the confrontation, which unfolded on 14 June as she set up a picnic for her birthday at Caldwell Woods in the Chicago suburbs.
In the viral clip a white man approaches her and demands to know why she is wearing her shirt, which had "Puerto Rico" written on it.
"You should not be wearing that in the United States of America," he shouts, repeatedly jabbing his finger at her.
"Are you a citizen? Are you a United States citizen?"
Ms Irizarry calls on a nearby park police officer for help.
But the officer, Patrick Connor, turns his back and walks towards his patrol car.
The suspect continued to harangue Ms Irizarry for about 10 minutes before other officers arrived and arrested him.
The Forest Preserve District of Cook County Police Department - where Mr Connor worked for 12 years - announced he had resigned late on Wednesday.
At a press conference on Thursday, Superintendent Arnold Randall said Mr Connor was "very remorseful" when he resigned.
But he said the officer considered it "an unfortunate incident" and felt he was not "given a fair shake".
Mr Randall added that Mr Connor's personnel file will say that he did not leave "in good standing", and will include a note that he left "with discipline pending".Mr Randall added that Mr Connor's personnel file will say that he did not leave "in good standing", and will include a note that he left "with discipline pending".
He added that officials will review the mandatory diversity training that officers are required to take. Mr Connor had taken the course a year ago, officials say.He added that officials will review the mandatory diversity training that officers are required to take. Mr Connor had taken the course a year ago, officials say.
In an earlier statement, the police said that an investigation had been launched and the officer had been placed on desk duty.In an earlier statement, the police said that an investigation had been launched and the officer had been placed on desk duty.
The viral video clip shows Mia Irizarry, 24, setting up her picnic when a white man approaches and demands to know why she is wearing her shirt, which had "Puerto Rico" written on it. In the unedited video, Mr Connor is seen trying to reassure the victim that Mr Trybus does not pose a threat to her safety.
Hispanic woman berated as US cop looks on
"You should not be wearing that in the United States of America," the man, identified as 62-year-old Timothy Trybus shouts.
"Are you a citizen? Are you a United States citizen?"
Ms Irizarry asks a park police officer who has arrived for help, saying: "I am renting this area and he's harassing me about the shirt that I'm wearing."
But the policeman does nothing.
She says: "Officer, I'm renting, I paid for a permit for this area."
"I do not feel comfortable with him here, is there anything you can do?"
But the officer walks away.
Coming closer, the man says: "You're not gonna change us, you know that?"
"OK, OK," Ms Irizarry says, trying to placate him.
Mr Trybus continued to harangue Ms Irizarry for about 10 minutes before other officers arrived and arrested him.
He has been charged with disorderly conduct and assault.
On Thursday, state officials announced that they would also charge him with a felony hate crime.
"That officer did absolutely nothing - he did absolutely zero," Ms Irizarry said in her 36-minute long Facebook live broadcast.
Supt Randall said that Ms Irizarry deserved to be praised for her response amid a national trend of "racially charged, abusive incidents we're seeing throughout the country".Supt Randall said that Ms Irizarry deserved to be praised for her response amid a national trend of "racially charged, abusive incidents we're seeing throughout the country".
"We might start with the fine example presented by Mia Irizarry and her family, who handled this ugly incident with great composure, never stooping to the level of the man who attacked her," he said in a written statement."We might start with the fine example presented by Mia Irizarry and her family, who handled this ugly incident with great composure, never stooping to the level of the man who attacked her," he said in a written statement.
He added that the staff of Caldwell Woods, where the incident occurred, had apologised directly to Ms Irizarry and refunded the money that she had paid for her permit. He added that the park staff had apologised directly to Ms Irizarry and refunded the money she paid for her permit.
The video had angered public officials in the state of Illinois, as well as the governor of Puerto Rico.The video had angered public officials in the state of Illinois, as well as the governor of Puerto Rico.
The island of Puerto Rico is a US territory.The island of Puerto Rico is a US territory.
"I am appalled, shocked and disturbed by the officer's behaviour," Gov Ricardo Rosselló said on Twitter.
"He failed to de-escalate the situation and therefore did not ensure a citizen's safety."
Nearly half of Americans are unaware that Puerto Ricans are United States citizens, according to polling taken after the island was rocked by a hurricane last September.