Ald. Colby Chapman arrested moments after announcing 2027 bid for mayor

Ald. Colby Chapman (2nd), a vocal critic of Mayor Chris Clark, was taken into custody on a felony charge of assaulting a police officer one day after the county state’s attorney dismissed a similar misdemeanor.

This marks Chapman’s fourth arrest in the past year. Police alerted Chapman and her legal counsel that she was to be detained once more the morning of June 5, but did not specify what the charges were at the time.

Chapman arrived at City Hall for a special council meeting, later learning it was cancelled. “How of a coincidence that the meeting would be canceled?” Shortly before Chapman was taken into custody, she announced she is running for Harvey mayor in 2027.

In April, the council approved the sale of a property connected to the home of 87-year-old resident Betty Allen, who has lived on Myrtle Ave. for nearly 30 years. Chapman, whose ward includes Allen’s home, objected to the sale after attempting to speak on the family’s behalf. The mayor ordered police to remove her from chambers. 

Video footage released by the mayor’s office — dubbed “the Alderman Colby Crashout” — shows Chapman lightly shove the left shoulder of Officer Javier Magana as she is removed from chambers, along with body camerage footage from arresting officers.

Chapman insisted the police action was ultimately premeditated. Officers visited her home earlier that morning, which she observed on her ring camera, Chapman said. This underscores a pattern of harassment aimed at silencing her, she said.

“Today’s arrest, coming on the very day Miss Colby Chapman announced her candidacy for mayor, is no coincidence; it is a blatant and deeply troubling act of political retaliation,” he said. “This is not justice, this is political persecution.”

“This is total Injustice today, when I walk inside a city hall and likely going to be arrested on something that I have even no understanding on,” Chapman said before the meeting was canceled. “I was vindicated yesterday, so what more is it going to take? Is this truly about an occurrence, or is this political retaliation?”

She eventually made her way to Harvey’s police station. In front of the police station, after delivering an impromptu speech and embracing her mother, whose own charges stemming from her arrest in April were dismissed the day prior, Chapman surrendered to authorities. She was handcuffed out of public view. 

Access to the station’s lobby was restricted, a departure from previous arrests when supporters were allowed inside.

Chapman has a pending federal lawsuit on civil rights violation, Olswang said. She was held overnight, transferred to Markham Courthouse the next day for a hearing. A preliminary hearing is set for June 23.