Champaign Co. (ECWd) –
The Illinois State Police and the City of Urbana, after being sued under the Freedom of Information Act for improper redactions, have provided unredacted records pertaining to the allegation of criminal shoplifting by State Representative Carol Ammons. Initially, both agencies redacted Ammons’s name.
According to the ISP report, “There is video surveillance footage of the alleged theft.”
We urge everyone to read the full reports from both the ISP and the Urbana Police Department, watch the video, and draw their own conclusion about the actions of State Representative Carol Ammons’ alleged theft of a purse. 
“Ammons is observed reaching her right hand into the purse. A few seconds later Ammons steps away from the rack and a white object appears on the floor near Ammons feet. It should be noted this white object was not on the floor when Ammons walked to the rack.”
“Ammons arrived at office approximately five minutes later. reiterated she figured Ammons wanted to talk to her about the theft of the Coach purse. said she did not inform or indicate to Ammons that she (XXXX) already knew about the incident. Ammons told she was embarrassed about the incident and it was a misunderstanding and wanted to either pay the auxiliary resale shop for the purse or return the purse to them.”
“Ammons asked XXXX to not prosecute her. XXXX told Ammons she would have to follow up with Carle Security about the incident.”
“Robinson asked XXXX if she wanted Ammons prosecuted or not. Robinson and Barnard explained to XXXX that they would take her decision into consideration either way and explained that by prosecuting Ammons may have a negative effect on the resale shop, since Ammons had shopped there several times in the past. I stated that by not prosecuting Ammons might also create negative backlash for the resale shop. XXXX said she, on behalf of Carle Foundation, did not want to be part of that decision and wanted to leave that completely up to the prosecutors.”
“XXXX reiterated to us, the same as she did to the Urbana Police officer, that when she found the tissue paper in the dressing room, she knew there was no way it had just fallen out of the purse; it was purposely placed behind the chair in the dressing room.”
“XXXX and XXXX said that since this incident had occurred, people who know Ammons have come into the store and made comments to the employees such as, “ said you guys rang up the purse as $8 instead of $80.” XXXX advised there was no way that was possible.”
“Ammons advised in her interview that she gave the black Coach purse to her friend XXXX XXXX”
“Once Ammons arrived, Ammons repeatedly told XXXX how she was “so embarrassed, so embarrassed” over the incident. XXXX said Ammons explained how she had recently visited the Carle Auxiliary Resale Boutique and had “accidentally” walked out of the store with merchandise she did not pay for. “Please don’t prosecute me,” XXXX remembered Ammons asking her.”
“I told Ammons we have video surveillance of her walking to the store with just a clutch purse. Then after she looked around the store she went into the dressing room, paid for some items and walked out of the store with a Coach purse, which cost $80, which was not paid for. Ammons’ response was, “I don’t recall doing that at all.” She
reiterated that she does own a Coach purse, but they’re not the same. I told her, again, that we have video surveillance of the theft.” (emphasis added)
“I told Ammons that her mannerisms in the video showed me this was not the first time she had stolen something. She responded that she thought she had paid for the purse.” (emphasis added)
Reading the entire file is most telling, but the Perry Mason moment is found in one of Ammon’s responses.
“I asked Ammons if she was denying taking the purse without paying for it, and she said, “I don’t remember taking a purse without paying for it. I do have a Coach purse and I have one that I can show them; it’s similar but it’s not of course what they’re missing.” (emphasis added)
“I asked Ammons how she knew which purse was stolen” (emphasis added)
A copy of the ISP report can be downloaded at this link or viewed below.
A copy of the Urbana Police Department report can be downloaded at this link or viewed below.
The video’s from the retail shop can be viewed below.
There are no publicly available records of any prosecution of Ammons.
Records Combined_Marked- Modified_RedactedU20-134 - Re-redacted
17 Comments
Greg G
Posted at 10:01h, 23 JuneCarol Ammons= Black Privilege !
Justice Seeker
Posted at 19:54h, 22 JuneThe problem is the judicial branch has become too political to do their job. From state’s attorneys to judges. Too many there to help their friends and family. They should be held accountable for not doing what they were elected to do.
It is not about upholding the law anymore. A corrupt politician is no better than a drug dealer. Treat them the same. Stop promising to hold elected officials responsible during your campaign and then work to cover for those elected officials once you are elected!!
Greg G
Posted at 19:53h, 22 JuneThe criticism of any black regardless of how useless and non productive they are is
racism. Ammons and her convict husband are two of the worst racists in Illinois!
Everything that has ever happend to them is racism, He goes to the front of the
pardon line, Because he is black and is some use to the democrat party, Same for
his wife, the democrats used her until she was no longer useful to their cause
They wanted a black puppet to cary the water of the democrats and they got one!
The useless democrat states attorney Julia Reitz is just as guilt as the so called
“Special Prosecutor” who was told to back off on the shoplifting charge by Governor
Prickster! This whole thing stinks like a whorehouse at low tide. Welcome to the
over flowing toilet that is democrat politics in Illinois!
Champaign County Reader
Posted at 22:51h, 22 JuneIf anyone pulled strings with the Special Prosecutor’s office, it would have been more likely to be Mike Madigan (or someone connected to him) than Pritzker.
Sam
Posted at 18:20h, 22 JuneI watched the videos, where does this happen:
“Ammons is observed reaching her right hand into the purse. A few seconds later Ammons steps away from the rack and a white object appears on the floor near Ammons feet. It should be noted this white object was not on the floor when Ammons walked to the rack.”
Champaign County Reader
Posted at 22:20h, 22 JuneIt’s in “Store Floor 2 Part 1” between 4:30 and 5:30 towards the far right side of the screen. There’s a white piece of paper on the floor after 5:30 or so that wasn’t there at the beginning of the video.
Concerned Democrat
Posted at 13:11h, 22 JuneI must be incredibly naive or have had way too much faith in our justice system to believe there are indeed some who are above the law. How is this even possible with so much evidence against her for not only INTENTIONALLY stealing the purse from this non-profit organization, however, as well trying to use her position to get others to cover it up and lie for her? Her “friend” at Carle and the “friend” she claims she gave the purse to were at least responsible enough citizens to tell the truth; shedding light on the incredulous lies she continued to tell, obstructing justice in the worst of ways. Still, she is not prosecuted, nor even made to resign her ILGA position? I think it’s time to prosecute the “prosecutors” for not doing their jobs! THEY should be turned over to the ethics cmte at this point. What and who gives them the right to pick and choose who is held accountable for breaking the law?
We should all be ashamed… 😞
Champaign County Reader
Posted at 14:39h, 22 JuneCarol Ammons is also chair of the Champaign Democratic Party, and they’re fine with this. The official story is that it was all just a misunderstanding, and anyone who believes otherwise is a racist.
PK
Posted at 10:51h, 23 JuneAnd many conscientious men who CAN NOT thusly be ‘held to be’ racist are ‘slapped back into place’ for being misogynistic; even though they ARE CONSCIOUSLY NOT.
Michael J. Williams
Posted at 09:11h, 22 JuneWhy was this not reported to the State of Illinois Ethics officer?
I have a pretty good idea….
Champaign County Reader
Posted at 08:56h, 22 JunePage 13 of the Illinois State Police Reports shows people from the Special Prosecutor’s office in a February 2020 meeting telling Carle that prosecuting Carol might have a “negative effect” on the resale shop. Then later, there was a court case involving ECW and the City of Urbana where it turned out that the Illinois State Police had finished their investigation in March 2020, but the Special Prosecutor had been less than forthcoming about that. So why was the Special Prosecutor so unwilling to take action?
Greg G
Posted at 00:39h, 22 JuneAmmons refuses to go on any call in shows like the popular “Penney for Your
Thoughts” on WDWS out of Champaign to answer any questions from her
constituents. She is on her way out! The Chicago democrats that put her in office are
done with her! Bye Bye Carol!
PK
Posted at 23:59h, 21 JuneCarol Ammons representing all shoplifters in Illinois House District 103 is very troubling. Please let there be many, many exceptions!
Publius
Posted at 21:38h, 21 JuneCan you please post the court documents if available?
Justice Seeker
Posted at 19:59h, 21 JuneIt is no wonder there is no trust in government officials. If she were ethical at all, she would resign! The fact it has not been prosecuted says a lot about prosecutors who should be doing their job as well!
Greg G
Posted at 18:30h, 21 JuneAnother criminal democrat who thinks she is above the law! With her loosing her leadership committee position she has refused to show up for her legislative job in Springfield! She needs to be removed from her seat in the ILGA! If this were a Republican the Chicago Democrats would be screaming , “She needs to resign for the good of the party. The Ammons family is like a festering cyst on the State of Illinois!! Anyone wanting the entire FOIA file on her felon husband Arron Ammons who received a 11th hour pardon from former governor Pat Quinn. Just say the word and I will send it to the ECWD’s so everyone can see just how dirty these two are.
Kirk Allen
Posted at 18:42h, 21 JuneSend us what you have and we can compare to what we have. Thanks!