The Story of Corey Van Dickerson Sr.
News Release
East St. Louis Senior High School
On January 11, 2003, an 18-year-old named Corey Van Dickerson Sr. walked into East St. Louis Senior High School to watch a basketball game. He did not throw a punch. He did not join any fight. By the end of the night, he was beaten by police, handcuffed, and hit with charges that never matched what really happened.
That night is back in the spotlight as Corey releases his paperwork, photos, and news coverage to show what he went through and how it connects to a larger pattern inside the East St. Louis Police Department.
Arrest slips written that night accused me of “resisting a peace officer” and “criminal trespass to property.” The game was open to the public, and the disturbance came from fans fighting in the lobby and stands, not from players and not from me. News described the crowd as nearly 5,000 people and the scene as “bedlam” and “mayhem,” with more than 50 squad cars surrounding the school.
“Back then, I was just a kid from Cahokia who loved basketball,” Corey said. “I didn’t know that walking into that gym would end with my face on the floor and my name in a false report. I did nothing to deserve what they did to me.”
Over time, more information has come out about how the department operates. In 2016, a former intern filed a federal lawsuit saying East St. Louis officers harassed her, that the city ignored ongoing misconduct, and that there was a ‘code of silence’ protecting officers instead of the public. bnd.com In another case, a pedestrian claimed that an East St. Louis officer hit him with a patrol car and sued both the officer and the department for negligence. Legal Newsline
“These cases show I wasn’t alone,” Corey said. “The pattern is the problem. My story is one piece of a much bigger picture.”
Corey is now sharing his story with media, students, and community groups. His goal is simple: tell the truth, put names and dates on the record, and push for reforms so that another teenager doesn’t get beaten and branded a criminal for doing nothing wrong.
Media Contact:
LCS Consults
Email: report@lscconsults.com
Phone: 618-414-0099
Background & Facts
Who I Am?
Who I Am
- Name: Corey Van Dickerson Sr.
- Age at time of incident: 18
- Hometown: Cahokia, Illinois
- Current roles: Father, Honor student, community advocate, political candidate
What Happened On January 11, 2003
- Boys basketball game between Cahokia and East St. Louis at East St. Louis Senior High
- Crowd estimated around 5,000 people in the gym
- Fight breaks out among fans in the lobby and in the stands, not on the court
- Game is stopped early; athletic officials later describe the scene as “bedlam” and “mayhem” and confirm no athletes were involved in the fight
- Police from several agencies already on scene; dozens of squad cars outside
I am Corey Van Dickerson Sr., a lifelong resident of Cahokia, Illinois. At the time of the incident, I was an 18-year-old young man who simply came to watch a basketball game. Today, I stand as a father, an honor student, a community advocate, and a political candidate. My life has been shaped by the truth of what happened that night and by the years I spent carrying a false record that never reflected who I was or what I actually did. I share this now not out of anger, but out of responsibility, because silence allows the same harm to happen to others.
What Happened on January 11, 2003
The night of the incident, nearly five thousand people filled East St. Louis Senior High School for a rivalry basketball game between Cahokia and East St. Louis. A fight broke out among spectators in the lobby and the stands, but no players or coaches were involved. News reports later described the environment as chaotic, using words like “bedlam” and “mayhem” to describe the crowd. Multiple police agencies were already on site because of the size and intensity of the event. I was not part of the fight. I had just walked into the building.
How I Was Treated?
How I Was Treated
- I was not part of the fight. I was there as a spectator.
- Officers grabbed me, struck me, and forced me to the ground head first.
- I was handcuffed and charged with Disorderly Conduct and Resisting a Peace Officer.
- The handwritten complaints blame me for “interfering” with an arrest, but never show any act of violence on my part.
The case faded away, but the damage did not.
I had been inside the gym since the beginning of the game, watching it like everyone else. The night was packed, intense, and full of energy, but I wasn’t causing any trouble. I sat and enjoyed the game until halftime, when I walked down to the concession stand like any other fan. That was the moment everything changed. As I stepped into the lobby area, officers rushed toward me and mistook me for someone else involved in the fight that had broken out among spectators. I wasn’t part of that fight, I hadn’t argued with anyone, and I hadn’t done a single thing to draw attention to myself. But instead of asking questions or checking who I was, they grabbed me without warning, slammed me head-first into the floor, and held me down with force I didn’t deserve. I remember the shock of the moment, the pain in my head and face, and the confusion of being attacked for something I didn’t do. One of the officers was Kendall Perry, the same man who would later become Chief of Police and he put his hands on me, pinning me down as if I was a threat, even though I never resisted and never lifted a hand against anyone. They handcuffed me on the floor, dragged me up, and charged me with Disorderly Conduct and Resisting a Peace Officer. Their report accused me of “interference,” but it never described any action that justified the violence they used. I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, mistaken for someone else, and treated like a criminal for doing nothing. The charges faded, but the record followed me for years, and the memory of that night stayed even longer.
My Attempt to Resolve This as an Adult
This year, when I ran for mayor of Cahokia Heights, I reached out directly to the man who put his hands on me, Kendall Perry now East St. Louis, IL Chief of Police, the same officer listed in my police report. I wrote him a respectful letter. I explained what happened that night. I told him that the charges were false, that I never fought any officer, and that the record was hurting my future. I asked him for help correcting it. I didn’t threaten him. I didn’t attack him. I approached him the same way any man would expect another man to respond, with honesty and accountability.
He never replied.
That silence told me everything. A man who had the chance to make something right chose to ignore it. That moment proved why my story matters. This isn’t about bringing harm to anyone. It’s about asking our leaders, our officers, and our systems to step up and take responsibility when they get it wrong. I tried to do this the right way. I tried to handle it privately. But when the door stayed closed, I made the choice to tell the truth publicly so this doesn’t happen to someone else.
The Same Officers in These Cases Were Involved in My Arrest
The Aftermath
As I began reviewing old public records, lawsuits, and archived news articles, one disturbing thing became clear; the same officers who arrested and assaulted me on January 11, 2003 were the same officers whose names kept appearing in complaints and legal cases throughout the years.
I found officers connected to sexual harassment allegations brought by a former police intern who described a “code of silence” inside the department. I found officers tied to wrongful arrest patterns, negligence lawsuits, and incidents involving excessive force. I even found reports where officers were accused of writing misleading or incomplete statements when their actions were questioned.
These weren’t different officers or different eras; they were the same men who slammed me to the floor, held me down, and charged me with crimes I didn’t commit. Seeing their names repeat across more than a decade of complaints showed me that what happened to me was not a coincidence, it was part of a larger culture that failed to hold its own accountable. My case was not an isolated moment; it was one piece of a long pattern of misconduct that continued because no one stopped it. When the same officers repeatedly appear in lawsuits, abuse claims, and public complaints, the responsibility shifts from the individual to the system that allowed them to continue wearing a badge.
My Mission
- Put my experience and the documents in front of the public.
- Show students and young people what can happen when systems go unchecked.
- Push for honest conversations about policing, training, and accountability in East St. Louis and beyond.
Event: The Truth Behind the Badge
*Hosted by B.L.A.C. – Brothers Living Above Chains
“The Truth Behind the Badge”
Event Description
This event brings people into the story of January 11, 2003. Using my original arrest slips, incident reports, news coverage of the game, and later lawsuits, I walk people through what happened to me and how it fits the wider record of misconduct inside East St. Louis policing.
The event can be held at a community center, church, or campus. It features:
- A short presentation where I tell the story in my own words.
- A table with copies of my documents and the public articles.
- Time for questions from students, media, and community members.
PR Goal
- Turn a quiet, forgotten case into a public record.
- Give journalists a clear, well-documented story they can verify.
- Help people see that this is not about one bad night, but about a system that allowed it.
Target Audience
- Local and regional news outlets
- College and high school classes studying criminal justice, media, or race and policing
- Community groups and civil rights organizations
- Voters and local leaders who care about justice reform
Media Outreach Strategy
- Send this media kit and the news release to: local papers, TV stations, radio, and independent outlets.
- Offer interviews before the event and availability after.
- Share short clips and images on social media to build interest (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, X).
- Partner with at least one local organization or campus group to co-host, to show this is bigger than one person.
The Truth Behind the Badge is a community event hosted by B.L.A.C. (Brothers Living Above Chains) to bring people face-to-face with the real story behind what happened to me on January 11, 2003. This program takes attendees through a clear and documented timeline of the night I was misidentified, assaulted, and wrongfully charged, and shows how my experience connects to a wider pattern of misconduct involving the same officers over many years. Using my original arrest slips, police reports, archived news articles, and later lawsuits tied to the East St. Louis Police Department, I walk the audience step by step through the truth; not rumors, not assumptions, but documented evidence. The event includes a spoken presentation in my own voice, a display table of key documents and public records, news coverage confirming the real events of that night, and an open Q&A session where the community can ask questions and engage directly with the material. The goal is to turn a forgotten incident into a public record that can be verified and understood, giving journalists, students, and citizens a clearer picture of what happens when systems fail and accountability disappears. Our audience includes local and regional media, schools and colleges, social justice organizations, community leaders, and residents who care about reform and public safety. To build momentum, we will send this media kit to newspapers, television and radio outlets, and online platforms, offer interviews before and after the event, share short videos and graphics on social media, and collaborate with local partners to ensure strong attendance and community impact.
MEDIA ASSETS
These are the materials that will be attached or shown in the final kit.
- Arrest Citations – Corey Van Dickerson Sr. (01/11/2003)
- Yellow non-traffic complaints showing the charges of Disorderly Conduct and Resisting a Peace Officer.
- Handwritten narrative claiming I “resisted” and “interfered,” with no mention of any assault or weapon.
- Caption: “Original arrest tickets issued to Corey Van Dickerson Sr. the night he was beaten and detained at East St. Louis Senior High School.”
- Incident Report – East St. Louis Police Department (ES-03-01250)
- Official report listing the location as East St. Louis Senior High School and describing the large crowd and “problems anticipated.”
- Shows that the incident took place during an already chaotic scene with many officers and agencies on site.
- Caption: “East St. Louis Police incident report from the same night, documenting crowd problems but not describing any violent act by Corey.”
- Belleville News-Democrat Coverage of the Game and Fight
- Articles describe a fight among fans that led to the game being cancelled, and note that no athletes were involved.
- One article cites the atmosphere as “bedlam” and “mayhem” and confirms that the crowd, not the players, caused the shutdown.
- Caption: “Local coverage from 2003 confirming that the chaos came from fans in the stands and lobby, not from Corey and not from any players.”
- News Story on Former ESLPD Intern’s Lawsuit (Sexual Harassment and Code of Silence)
- Belleville News-Democrat story about Terrayana Richardson’s federal lawsuit claiming a pattern of harassment and a ‘code of silence’ around officer misconduct. bnd.com
- Caption: “Later lawsuit describing a pattern of harassment and lack of accountability inside East St. Louis policing.”
- News Story on Pedestrian vs. East St. Louis Officer Lester Anderson
- LegalNewsline / Madison County Record story on a pedestrian who says an East St. Louis officer hit him with a patrol car and sues for negligence. Legal Newsline
- Caption: “Civil lawsuit showing additional claims of harm tied to East St. Louis police actions.”
One of the most important parts of this media kit is the collection of documents and public records that verify my story and place it within a larger pattern of misconduct. The first asset is my original Arrest Citations from January 11, 2003, printed on yellow non-traffic complaint forms. These citations list charges that never reflected what actually happened: Disorderly Conduct and Resisting a Peace Officer. The handwriting on these tickets accuses me of “interference,” yet nowhere is there proof that I resisted or touched anyone. These documents show the beginning of how my name was pulled into a false narrative. Caption: “Arrest tickets issued the night Corey Van Dickerson Sr. was beaten at East St. Louis Senior High School.”
The second asset is the official Incident Report from the East St. Louis Police Department (ES-03-01250). This report outlines the size of the crowd, the tension inside the gym, and the fact that police expected problems from spectators long before I stepped into the concession area at halftime. What it does not show is any clear action or behavior from me that justified the force used against me. This contrast, between what the report anticipates and what it fails to document, tells its own story. Caption: “Police report showing the department expected difficulties from the crowd, not from Corey.”
Another key asset is the Belleville News-Democrat coverage from the days after the game. These articles confirm that the chaos came from spectators in the stands and lobby, not from athletes and certainly not from me. Reporters described the gym as “mayhem” and “bedlam,” with thousands of people present and fights breaking out in multiple areas. This independent reporting supports the truth: I was not involved in the disturbance and had no role in the fight that drew police attention. Caption: “News articles proving the disturbance came from spectators, not Corey.”
The media kit also includes the federal lawsuit filed by former East St. Louis police intern Terrayana Richardson, who described harassment, retaliation, and a culture of silence inside the department. Her claims reveal a pattern of behavior that aligns with what I experienced; officers acting without accountability and a system that failed to address misconduct. Her lawsuit shows that the problems inside the department were not limited to one moment or one officer. Caption: “Lawsuit describing a pattern of misconduct inside the department.”
Finally, the kit presents a separate civil case: Pedestrian vs. Officer Lester Anderson, in which a man claimed he was struck by an East St. Louis patrol car. This lawsuit adds another example of alleged negligence connected to the same department and highlights how incidents involving these officers continued over the years. Caption: “Case showing additional negligence tied to the same department.”
Together, these assets give journalists, students, and community members verifiable evidence, documents, articles, and lawsuits, that confirm my story and show the broader environment that allowed incidents like mine to happen.
REFERENCES
Belleville News-Democrat. (2003, January 13). Fight among fans halts basketball game: No athletes were involved in “mayhem” [Newspaper article]. Belleville News-Democrat archive.
Belleville News-Democrat. (2003, January 16). Cahokia, ESL may complete game in an empty gym [Newspaper article]. Belleville News-Democrat archive.
Belleville News-Democrat. (2003, January 17). ESL, Cahokia decide not to complete game [Newspaper article]. Belleville News-Democrat archive.
Smith, C. P. (2016, January 29). Former East St. Louis police intern sues city, alleging pattern of sexual harassment [Newspaper article]. Belleville News-Democrat. bnd.com
Pedestrian claims ESL patrol car struck him while crossing street. (2013, May 8). Madison County Record / LegalNewsline. Legal Newsline
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