YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 19, No. 22
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Brentwood Police officer claims assault by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
A veteran Brentwood police officer has filed a lawsuit alleging that her supervisor sexually assaulted her at a work-related, out-of-state training conference in 2017, and then pressured her to lie during what she is claiming was a mishandled Brentwood Police Department investigation designed to cover up the alleged incidents. The alleged victim, a 17-year member of the force whose identity will not be revealed per the policy of this newspaper, claims that nowretired Brentwood Police Lt. Sal DiMercurio forced her to engage in sex acts in his hotel room. The accuser alleges that the attack followed an assault the previous evening that she was able to deflect.
The suit alleges that DiMercurio persuaded the accuser to lie about the events during a Brentwood Police Department review, and that a fellow senior police department official asked her a series of “yes or no” questions designed to confirm DiMercurio’s account that “there had been no sexual intercourse and any contact was consensual.” Now-retired Brentwood Police Captain Ben Tolero, conducted the review, and is mentioned in the suit as having closed the investigation without determination of any violations. While the accuser admitted she supported DiMercurio’s version of the events, the complaint asserts that she did so out of fear of retaliation.
Showing respect
Honoring Our Local Heroes
Photo by Melissa van Ruiten
A
uggie Gendreau, from Pack 21 of Brentwood, waits to present the flag during the Memorial Day event at Veterans Park in Brentwood. To view more photos of the event, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia/slideshows
see Assault page 26
by Chris Campos Correspondent
Photo courtesy of Fairbourne Properties
Fairbourne Properties, the Chicago-based operator of The Streets of Brentwood, is looking to change the city’s zoning to allow development of housing at the site. In the plan, the firm states, “The retail center is occupied with some well-known, creditworthy tenants, however, they have strug-
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gled to keep the space fully occupied and there has been no interest in developing the remaining buildings and pads. This is the reason
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Daisies Plant STEM Supplies
Girl Scout Daisy troop donates $300 of materials to library for STEM science program. Page 5
Streets looking to build apartments
The owner of The Streets of Brentwood, the city’s largest retail center, has submitted plans to the city to construct 320 apartments on the east side of the 57-acre property. Facing a challenging retail market rocked by online competition, Fairbourne Properties, the Chicago-based operator of the mall, is seeking to change the city’s zoning to allow development of housing at the site. The property managers filed a 48-page development with the Brentwood Planning Department in February. City officials are looking to bring it before the planning commission for a hearing June 4.
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residential is being proposed for this property. There is no demand for more retail and the addition of residential is likely to help the retail perform better.” Planning manager Erik Nolthenius noted that the project could be a little contentious with the community. Given the strong opposition to some housing development proposals in the area, Nolthenius said he wouldn’t be surprised if the proposal drew some strong reactions. But one local development activist, Kathy Griffin, of the Alliance for a Better Brentwood, said that the project might make some sense for the shopping mall. “It’s an infill project, so it’s see Apartments page 26
Air Climb
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American Lung Association’s annual event set for June 1.
Annual banner display at Veterans Park in Brentwood honors those who have served. Page 4
Going Down Swinging
Heritage baseball, softball teams fall in NCS championship finals. Page 16 Calendar................................27 Classifieds.............................20 Cop Logs................................25 Entertainment.......................6 Food..........................................7 Health & Beauty..................12 Opinion..................................13 Sports.....................................16
Cannabis Tax
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State’s cannabis tax generated $61.4 million in revenue for 1st quarter in 2019.