Chicago cops pull over internal affairs chief's car; niece behind wheel reportedly says 'My auntie’s probably your boss' after passenger tries ditching 84 heroin packets

When Chicago police on Feb. 1 pulled over a Lexus belonging to Yolanda Talley, their new chief of internal affairs, Talley wasn't in the vehicle — but her niece was, along with a male passenger who tried to ditch 84 packets of heroin valued at $6,300, the Chicago Sun-Times reported, citing police records and a source familiar with the investigation.

What's more, Talley's niece — who was behind the wheel — told cops "my auntie’s probably your boss,” the source noted to the Sun-Times.

What else?

The traffic stop in the 500 block of North St. Louis Avenue occurred after officers in a gang investigations unit targeting drug sales spotted a man in a black mask picking up a bag near a black SUV and entering the passenger side of a four-door silver Lexus, the paper said in a previous story, citing a police report.

Officers said they stopped the car because the driver failed to use a turn signal, the Sun-Times said, adding that the passenger tossed a baggie containing 84 pink packets of heroin out of the window. Police said they recovered about 42 grams of heroin worth about $6,300, the paper said.

Police arrested the passenger — 34-year-old Kenneth Miles — for possession of a controlled substance, a felony, the paper said. But Talley’s niece was let go because there wasn’t clear evidence linking her to the heroin, the source told the Sun-Times.

Court records indicate that Talley's niece lives with Miles, the paper said, adding that he's a reputed member of the Traveling Vice Lords street gang and that court records show he has a lengthy criminal record that includes seven drug-related convictions.

Miles on Feb. 1 was free on bail in connection to a separate felony case for allegedly selling fentanyl, the Sun-Times said, adding that the Cook County sheriff’s office said he was being held in jail without bail.

In addition, Miles reportedly provided police with bad information that led to a botched raid at the home of Anjanette Young in 2019, WGN-TV reported, citing sources and police records.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability in November published a report recommending suspensions for seven officers involved in the raid, the station said, adding that City Council in December approved a $2.9 million settlement in Young’s lawsuit stemming from the raid.

What happened to the car?

Following conversations between high-ranking police officials, a decision was made not to impound Talley's car, even though that's the routine procedure for cars stopped during narcotics arrests so they can be searched for guns and drugs, the paper said.

With that, officers drove Talley’s Lexus back to the block where the arrest took place and returned the keys to her niece, the source told the Sun-Times.

One day after the traffic stop, involved officers were taken off the street for training with no further explanation, the Sun-Times said, adding that the source said it was apparent “punishment.”

“This was in direct response to this incident,” the source also noted to the paper, adding that all the officers are expected to return to normal duty next week.

The Sun-Times — citing a high-ranking police official — also reported that pulling those officers from the street is a decision that only could have come from Superintendent David Brown, First Deputy Superintendent Eric Carter, or Chief Ernest Cato.

Still, the source added to the paper that “knowing what we know, I don’t think Chief Yolanda Talley had any idea what was going on with her car."

What did Chicago police have to say about it all?

Police spokesman Don Terry said Tuesday that the incident involving Talley’s car has been referred to the city’s office of the inspector general in order to avoid a conflict of interest due to Talley's role as chief of internal affairs, which involves investigating misconduct allegations against other officers, the Sun-Times said.

The paper added in its initial story that Talley didn't respond to its email seeking comment. Terry declined to answer its questions, the Sun-Times also said.

Talley was promoted to chief of internal affairs in December, the Sun-Times said, adding that prior to that she was deputy chief of recruitment and retention and a deputy chief in charge of district commanders on the South Side.

The paper said Talley’s been a rising star in the department and that many police sources have indicated they believe she's being groomed for an even higher position, such as first deputy superintendent — the No. 2 spot in the department — if Carter retires.

Here's Talley in a CPD video titled "Be the Change," aimed at police recruitment, which was posted to YouTube prior to her promotion to internal affairs chief:

Be The Change: Deputy Chief Yolanda Talleyyoutu.be