By Kevin Sampier
Peoria Journal Star
PEKIN, Ill. - A Tazewell County Jail correctional officer has been suspended without pay for allegedly attacking his stepson, and his disciplinary case has been referred to the sheriff’s merit commission.
Jeffrey M. Stocke, 36, of Pekin was taken off paid administrative leave and suspended without pay Thursday after an internal investigation by the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Bob Huston said Friday.
“Officer Stocke really has been a good employee since 1999,” Huston said. “No one is happy to see this occur, but the charges against him are serious.”
Pekin police said Stocke grabbed the 12-year-old boy by the arm and began swinging him into kitchen cabinets about 10:30 p.m. Oct. 15.
After throwing the boy to the floor, Stocke twisted his arm behind his back, straddled him and raised his fist as though to punch the boy before his mother intervened, according to court records and police reports.
Huston said the boy’s wrist was thought to be broken, but that was not the case.
“Initially, it was reported broken, but I’ve been told verbally it was not,” Huston said.
The boy was taken to Pekin Hospital that night, but Stocke wasn’t arrested by Pekin police until the next morning, after being allowed to finish his shift at the Tazewell County Jail, Pekin police said.
Police said there was a lot of tension in the house that night because of financial issues.
Stocke faces one misdemeanor count of domestic battery in Tazewell County Circuit Court, but further disciplinary action regarding his employment with the Sheriff’s Department will be handled by the merit commission, Huston said.
The commission reviews cases of alleged misconduct by department employees and makes recommendations on discipline.
Huston said the commission has only reviewed three disciplinary cases during the past nine years, which includes the ongoing case involving Deputy Jeff Bass. Huston has said Bass neglected his patrol duties. Bass has denied those allegations.
Huston said Stocke will be the fourth case to go before the commission and said all disciplinary cases have happened within the past few years.
“In the past, everyone facing potential termination resigned instead of facing a hearing,” Huston said.
"(Stocke has) indicated to me that he wasn’t attempting to do the things he’s been accused of.”
Stocke was found guilty and received court supervision for driving under the influence of alcohol in 1994 and was convicted of giving alcohol to a minor in 1996.
Stocke’s bond was set at $5,000, and he was released from jail Oct. 17 after posting $500.
He is scheduled for an arraignment Tuesday.
Copyright 2007 The Peoria Journal Star