Criminal charges won’t be filed against Rockford officer who slammed Auburn student to the ground

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Winnebago County State’s Attorney J. Hanley has decided that criminal charges are not warranted against the school resource officer who slammed an Auburn High School freshman to the ground and permanently injured him about two years ago.

Hanley released that determination Thursday, saying his decision came after an investigation by Illinois State Police and a force science report by a use-of-force expert. You can read Hanley’s full memo here.

Hanley said the investigation into Officer Bradley Lauer’s actions on Sept. 21, 2021, was done at his request. The family has filed a federal lawsuit accusing the officer of excessive force. They said the student, Parris Moore, suffered a fractured skull and permanent brain damage affecting his memory and speech.

“To characterize P.M.’s injury as the unfortunate product of this incident does not diminish the nature of P.M.’s injury or its consequences,” Hanley wrote in a memorandum of his decision. “There is, however, no evidence that Officer Lauer intentionally used force likely to cause great bodily harm.”

The office uses initials rather than Moore’s name in the report because he is a minor. However, the family has previously identified Moore as the boy who was injured.

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The criminal investigation took place after the family’s attorney released video last fall that showed Lauer slam Moore to the ground. That video spurred heated complaints to the Rockford School Board from members of the public who demanded accountability for the officer and the school district.

Hanley said he had initially reviewed the video in the days after the incident and did not think further investigation was required. He requested the services of the use-of-force expert and the State Police in November, about a month after the video became public and calls for accountability increased.

Hanley says the investigation showed that Lauer was called around 9:10 a.m. to respond to an altercation in the hallway. When he arrived, he saw Business Academy Principal Scott Dimke “wrestling” with Moore. Lauer said both Moore and Dimke fell to the ground in the doorway of the men’s bathroom, and Dimke was still on his back as Moore started to get up.

“I was unable to see (Moore’s) hands and was unsure if he was attempting to strike Dimke,” Lauer said in a statement to investigators.

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That’s when he rushed in and attempted to pin Moore’s hands at his sides. He said Moore continued to resist so he tried to sweep his legs and take him to the ground.

Amber Lee-Black, the freshman academy principal, said they were attempting to guide Moore to her office.

“The student became more physical, wrapping his arms around Mr. Dimke’s legs, similar to how a football player would when attempting to tackle an opponent,” Lee-Black told investigators.

Video released by the family’s attorney showed Dimke attempt to stop Moore by grabbing his backpack, blocking his path and forcing him against the wall. Moore was then taken into an office, where video is obscured until Lauer arrives and pulls Moore back into the hallway, slamming him to the ground.

The family’s attorney, Al Hofeld Jr., previously said the school and officer treated a minor disciplinary issue — leaving class without permission — as a violent crime and used deadly force.

The lawsuit against the Rockford School District, Rockford Police Department and Lauer is pending.

The school district does not comment on matters involving pending litigation.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas