East Chicago looks at video attendance for jailed councilman
EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (AP) – The city of East Chicago is looking into whether a City Council member jailed on allegations of drug crimes and a homicide could attend meetings by video.
Councilman Robert Battle is accused of fatally shooting Reimundo Camarillo Jr. on Oct. 12 and is being held without bond at the Porter County Jail. Battle has claimed self-defense in the shooting death.
The (Munster) Times reports the city is seeing if Battle could perform official duties by attending City Council meetings twice a month through the jail’s video visitation system.
The council’s attorney, Stephen Bower, says state law forbids Battle from casting any votes by video link.
An attorney defending Battle declined to comment on the video attendance. Ryan Holmes, a spokesman for U.S. Attorney David Capp, also declined to comment.
