On February 2, 2024, a man allegedly attempted to cash a fake check at a credit union in Lawrence. Police Chief William Castro was in the area at the time and decided to pursue the suspect’s Mercedes as it left the scene.
Despite the petty nature of the offense, Chief Castro allegedly initiated a “highly dangerous” car chase that endangered the police and the public.
An independent report of the incident by Comprehensive Investigations and Consulting (CIC) claims that Castro pursued the fleeing vehicle over a sidewalk and onto Canal Bridge driving in the wrong direction. The chase ended when the suspect crashed his luxury car on South Canal Street.
To make matters worse, CIC says that Castro falsified his police report by claiming that he “perceived the operator and his passenger as being involved in a bank robbery.”
CIC also accuses Castro of unfair hiring practices and intimidation tactics among subordinate offices which created an unstable work environment.
Tonight at 7pm the city council will meet to discuss CIC’s report and the allegation against Castro.