BELLEVILLE, IL (KTVI)- A Belleville family wants answers after they say an undercover police officer crossed the line during a traffic stop.
The family says undercover officer pointed a gun at their heads while a four year old watched in the back seat.
The Sims family says they were headed from Fairview Heights to Belleville last Wednesday evening when their four year old accidentally tossed an ash tray out of the window.
Moments later, they say a man in a Cadillac Escalade tried to run them off the road.
They thought it was road rage, but it was an undercover officer who they say was out of control.
Adriana Sims, 18, said, “When he was chasing us I was thinking it`s road rage and I tried to get somewhere in the light where there are people.”
Adriana Sims was behind the wheel driving her parents GMC Envoy.
Her sister, older brother and his four year old daughter are in the car. They are scared.
Arthur Sims Jr. said, “Being the older brother I said it`s road rage don`t stop until we get to a lighted area.. We rode for while and finally when we saw some other cars he turned on the lights.”
But even then. they say they had no idea the man behind the wheel was an undercover officer.
“My main concern is my baby was sitting right next to me he would get behind us and rev the engine,” said Arthur.
The intersection at Lebonnon Ave in Belleville is where the situation allegedly escalated.
The Sims say the officer jumped out of his car, put a gun to their heads and slammed them on the ground while the four year old watched.
“First the gun was to my head and then to my back as we were walking. All I could think about was if he would slip that bullet was going through me,” said Arthur.
As other Fairview Heights police officers started to show up the Sims thought the situation would improve.
“When I saw them I was thinking maybe they are going to help but they helped him and everything he was doing,” said Adriana.
Fairview Heights police say the undercover officer is assigned to the narcotics task force.
In a written statement, they say the officer pursued the Sims after they yelled curse words and threw something out the window that hit his unmarked car.
“I felt helpless it was all because an ash tray fell out if anything give me a littering ticket,” said Arthur.
Arthur says his four year old now has nightmares. He says the officer could have handled the situation differently.
“It was embarrassing. My daughter was right there,” said Arthur.
“He didn`t jump out with a badge. He just jumped out with a gun,” said Adriana.
Adriana Sims was ticketed for not having her insurance card and drivers license and failing to stop for an emergency vehicle.
Arthur Sims was taken to Fairview Heights jail for disorderly conduct and was released when his parents arrived.
The Sims say the are filing a complaint.
Fairview Heights police say they have initiated an internal review.
Below is the statement from police:
