On January 27, 2024, at approximately 3:30 PM Roytrell Long was unlawfully arrested and charged by the South Chicago Heights Illinois Police Department. This incident occurred after he was a victim of battery. Despite being the one who called the police 30 minutes prior before his child's drop-off and again upon arrival at the location he found himself detained and charged in front of his child. 
  
As he arrived at the location, he noticed the grandmother running towards the car and decided to drive to a safer location until the police arrived to complete the transfer of the child to grandmother. As he was driving off the grandmother decided to dive towards the passenger side back window of the vehicle and lost footing in the midst of trying to grab his window. This resulted in the grandmother falling and causing injury to her knee. In result of this unexpected action of the grandmother and out of concern for everyone's safety including his child, Roytrell waited for police a few houses down the street at a safer location due to him receiving threatening messages stating that the grandmother would cut his tongue off and kill him prior to his arrival. There are also audio recordings showing that he was threatened and showing that the order of protection in placed was broken/violated. 
  
Throughout this entire ordeal, Roytrell was on a call with a police operator - providing real-time updates on what was transpiring. However, when officers arrived on scene, they did not ask any questions or attempt to understand what had happened from both perspectives. They saw that the grandmother had sustained injuries and that Roytrell was on parole/probation - these two factors led them to detain him without further investigation. 
  
He understands that as a convicted felon he is under more scrutiny than others might be in similar situations, but it does not justify ignoring his rights or treating him unfairly based solely on past mistakes. He has been out of trouble for the past two years and has been working towards bettering his life by working a full-time job to be able to provide for his children. He also completed his one-year supervised parole satisfactory on March 17, 2024.  
  
In light of these events, we are asking the honorable Judge Margaret M. Ogarek to please review the case and consider reinstating his probation or releasing him from custody to continue with his treatment.  
  
Please sign this petition if you stand with Roytrell Long and other men who may have also faced false allegations.