As we look back into the beginning of the 90s, three police shootings happened in a three and a half month period - all by Rockford police officers.
The first of these shootings took place on July 9th, 1990.
Then Rockford police detectives Ron Carey, who was also the police union’s president, and Ken Carner were hiding out in the storage room of the Stop-N-Go on Huffman Boulevard due to a string of robberies that happened in the area.
Around 4:00 am Floyd Tillman allegedly threatened the clerk with a “penknife” and took $29 from the register. Floyd then exited the store and began to run down the street when he was shot twice, one in the back, one in the leg, by Ron Carey with a sawed-off shotgun.
Despite being shot twice, Floyd continued to run before getting into a vehicle. Carey then pointed his sawed off shotgun and ordered the driver and Floyd to get out of the vehicle.
A grand jury ruled since Floyd Tillman was a fleeing felon, he could have posed a threat to others.
Floyd Tillman filed an excessive force civil lawsuit seeking a total of $400.00.
In the original suit Floyd claimed he was only armed with a ’small pen knife’ and the police officers had ample time to call for backup. Floyd Tillman would also point to the shooting of David Walker by Rockford police officer Terry Peterson which took place in October of 1990. Floyd contended the lack of disciple in both cases showed the Rockford police department ‘has a pattern and practice of excessive force’
Then City Attorney Daniel T. McGrail, who was appointed and served under Charles Box, was quoted saying “We’re denying the allegations and we think there is no merit to the claim. We think we’re right and the officers acted correctly.”
It would be dismissed two years later. He went on to be sentenced to eleven years for the charges that stemmed from the robbery.
This was the first police shooting in the 90’s, and second deadly force incident under Mayor Charles Box.