At Monday evening's meeting of the Macomb City Council, two members of the Democratic Women of McDonough County used the public comment portion of the meeting to issue what they called an “urgent safety alert” to the community.
Heather McMeekan told the council about what she called “a current threat to members of the community”, especially targeting people of color.
McMeekan said that over the past several months, the organization has received what she called “multiple credible reports” that someone has been using vehicles to terrorize people. Vicky McDonald called on residents to stay alert and prepared when out walking, suggesting there were more details that the coalition could not release at the moment.
Although McMeekan and McDonald left the council chambers after the public comment portion, later in the meeting Alderwoman Gayle Carper said that concerns like these are properly addressed to the police and that if alleged victims are worried about dealing with the police, there were measures – such as asking your ward alderman or woman – to go with you when filing a complaint. Mayor Mike Inman concurred with the alderwoman's suggestion.
The remarks by the members of the Democratic Women of McDonough County come on the heels of an early Sunday morning disturbance on the 700 block of West Adams Street where an individual was caught on video using his car in what seems to have been an attempt to hit several people who were apparently involved in some sort of fight following a party. The Macomb Police Department is investigating.
In other action, the council approved an engineering agreement with IMEG Corporation for the design and permitting of water main replacements for South Dudley from Jefferson to Franklin Street.