Powerful Illinois Democrats, State Police Covering Up Racial Incident?

Breitbart Media has worked for days to get to the bottom of a seemingly highly-charged story allegedly involving racism from a high profile Democrat and now former law enforcement official that may reach into the upper-level of Illinois state government, including the office of Governor Pat Quinn. Based upon sources in Carlinville, Illinois, at least on the surface, it appears as though powerful Democrats and perhaps even the State Police may be attempting to cover up a racial incident involving now resigned Democrat County Chair and former head of Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn’s southern security detail, Kenneth Snider.

The Sun-Times shed some light on the story on Saturday. Their story suggests they’ve been enountering the same resistance we’ve encountered. Snider abruptly resigned his various official positions without explanation the day after an alleged racial incident. At the time, Snider was already relying upon benefit time after a previous troubling incident in January. St. Louis Today touched on the latest story on March 23, as well. The Chicago Republican Party also reported the story, calling the investigation “secretive,” while pointing out Snider was paid $132,000 a year as head of Quinn’s State Police security detail.

Snider had been employed by the state since 1984 and was elevated last December as supervisor of Quinn’s south security detail, a job that put him in charge of overseeing executive protection officers, scheduling, routes and movements, Vega said in a prepared statement late Friday.

That assignment lasted until Jan. 19, when he began to use benefit time until his resignation on March 18, he said. Immediately after the March 18th incident, Snider resigned his chairmanship of the Carlinville school board and the MaCoupin County Democratic organization.

Multiple sources reluctant to come forward publically, or speak on the record, paint an extremely troubling picture that only raises even more serious questions, if true. Why did Snider abruptly resign? If there was an altercation, why was no one charged? Why did the local police turn the case over to the State Police? Are they really the best qualified to investigate one of their own given such a potentially significant story impacting race relations, especially for Democrats, in Illinois? Will justice be served, or only the interests of Democrats, who control all levers of government in Illinois?

Some have alleged that Snider entered the Anchor Inn in Carlinville, leaving after making a curious comment about the tavern appearing “dark.” Allegedly, there were a number of black patrons present, including students from Blackburn College. It’s also claimed that Snider returned later and proceeded to remark loudly as to the large number of “n#&&ers” present. It’s said some tried to quiet Snider, or get him to leave; but he resisted.

At some point, an altercation between Snider and a black Blackburn student is said to have taken place due to Snider’s outburts. It’s also been claimed that a number of Blackburn students, including one involved in the alleged altercation, then fled with Snider pursuing them on foot, allegedly “threatening to get his gun and kill them” at some point.

After learning of the alleged incident, the Macoupin County Enquirer-Democrat, contacted Blackburn College President, Mim Pride. Pride is said to be a friend of powerful former-Illinois Democrat State Senator, Deanna Demuzio – who sits on Blackburn’s board and also has close ties to Snider.

Snider’s political ties go all the way up to sitting Governor Quinn. Both men began their careers in Carlinville and are closely tied to the Demuzio family. Powerful Democrat Deanna Demuzio lost her Senate seat in 2010.

Sources at the Enquirer-Democrat were said to be optimistic about getting to the bottom of the matter, at first. Instead, their offices received a visit from police the next day after contacting Pride and their reporter was told to stay away from Blackburn College. It was claimed they were reported to have been harassing Blackburn students. Additionally, another source claims the college was trying to keep the incident quiet.

Meanwhile, it’s been reported that Carlinville police have turned the investigation over to the Illinois State Police, Snider’s recent, now former employer. It’s unclear how interested they may be in airing potentially dirty laundry of one of their own. On Saturday March 25th, there was a public birthday party in a local bar held for Snider and many in law enforcement were reported to have attended.

It was previously reported that Snider payed a woman $300 to repear her windshield and no charges were filed after an unusual incident in January, one in which Snider may have had too much to drink.

Earlier, in late January, Snider is alleged to have been “running and sliding on his belly on the snow” on a downtown Springfield sidewalk before jumping on the hood of a woman’s car and damaging her windshield, the Springfield State Journal-Register reported in its Saturday editions.

The full report by the Sun-Times here.

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois State Police has opened an investigation into a former chief of Gov. Quinn’s security detail who abruptly resigned this month after allegedly exhibiting erratic behavior.

Kenneth Snider, 49, stepped down from his post as supervisor of Quinn’s south security detail on March 18, the same day of an “altercation” he had with at least one college student in a downstate Carlinville bar, police sources said.

Carlinville’s police chief told the Sun-Times on Friday that Snider was involved in an apparent bar fight and his police department had turned over the matter to the State Police for investigation.

“My agency received a call for assistance from Mr. Ken Snider pretty much at 1 in the morning on the 18th due to an altercation at the Anchor Inn,” Police Chief David Haley said, referring to the bar where the fight occurred.

“My office responded, spoke to a bartender, Mr. Snider, a couple other people. Basically, we did a short preliminary investigation and [later that day] … I contacted the Illinois State Police and referred it to them for investigation.”

The owner of the Carlinville bar, who did not want to be identified, said Snider and a student at the town’s Blackburn College were involved in the altercation.

Asked if there was a racial component to their dispute, the owner told the Sun-Times “you’re probably on the right track,” but declined to discuss the matter further.

“We have not disclosed the person under investigation or specifics regarding the investigation, other than the fact the Illinois State Police is conducting an investigation involving one of our off-duty officers,” State Police Master Sgt. Isaiah Vega said.