Skip to main content

Joliet Mayor Accused of Blackmailing "Duck" Dickinson Over Nude Photos

 


By John Raspante

One of the biggest ongoing stories in local politics is that Joliet City Councilman Don “Duck” Dickinson made accusations that Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk has blackmailed him over alleged nude photos taken by Dickinson.

On Monday November 2, Dickinson filed a police report against the Joliet mayor and his report was immediately supplied to a local newspaper. That same night, Dickinson read a prepared statement at the Joliet Council meeting suggesting he has been a blackmail victim these past several months.

“Over the last six months, I have been put in a position that has been very uncomfortable for me with my role in the Council. This has affected all the decisions that I need to make to help the city of Joliet move forward,” Dickinson said in his statement at the meeting. “I feel I have been harassed, badgered, tormented and now blackmailed unfairly. This is over a personal relationship that I had a few years ago with another consenting adult. Photos were sent between us, for us and for us only.”

“This issue is being held over my head,” he continued. “The entire matter is being investigated by the Joliet Police Department. I have always been here for my constituents and I will be in the future.”

After the meeting, Mayor O’Dekirk came out and said in response, “I didn’t have much respect for Don as a councilman, but I did have respect for him as a person. I can’t believe he would stoop so low to file a false police report against me and make up a lie as far as trying to blackmail him with nude photographs.”

            Since the meeting, Dickinson has been unresponsive to requests for comment from multiple news outlets. Additionally, Dickinson took down his Facebook page even though he’s the most active Joliet elected official on social media. Before taking it down, Dickinson would post information to Facebook anywhere from ten to twenty times a day.

            While Dickinson has remained silent, O’Dekirk has not. O’Dekirk appeared on the WJOL 1340-AM news radio station and told morning show host Scott Slocum that Dickinson needs to be held accountable for the lies he is spreading.

            “I don’t have a naked photo of Don “Duck” Dickinson. I’ve never seen a photo of Don. I don’t ever want to see a naked photo of Don Dickinson or any other man,” O’Dekirk said during the live interview. “I don’t know why he would be compelled to not only lie about me, but then to put it in an official document, in a police report, filing a false police report… I just don’t know.” 

Image courtesy of Brock A. Stein


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Yearly LDS Celebration Returns After Two Year Hiatus

  Rory Richards Yearly LDS Celebration Returns After Two Year Hiatus On November 5, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints celebrated Luz De Las Naciones (Light of the Nations) . Every year since 2002, the church has celebrated the holiday as a way to showcase the diversity of its congregation. This year, the theme for the celebration is Juntos Es Mejor (Better Together) . After being unable to celebrate for two years due to the pandemic, LDS churchgoers were excited to once again be able to watch the televised Luz De Las Naciones stage play in Salt Lake City, Utah. More than 500 performers worked together to put on an elaborate show that was meant to entertain viewers while also communicating the message that, though the church is made up of members from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures, all of them are happier and stronger together.
Post a Comment
Read more

Wisconsin High School Sports Face An Uncertain Winter Season

By Sarah Vandermolen photo courtesy of nytimes.com Although most Wisconsin high schools decided to compete in fall sports this year, it seems some schools will not have the same luck for the winter sport season. Unlike other states, Wisconsin does not have a statewide mandate in regards to high school sports. For this reason, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) has left school districts to decide whether they will be participating in winter sports.  Due to the increase of COVID-19 cases, many high schools in Wisconsin have decided to suspend their winter sport season, while others are charging forward with competitions. However, even if schools decide to hold their winter season, not all high schools will begin on time.  According to rivertowns.net , "Locally, River Falls and New Richmond have suspended all athletics and activities through Dec. 7, while Hudson, St. Croix Central and Somerset are beginning as planned."  St. Croix Central athletic dire...
Post a Comment
Read more

This Week in Saint's News

 Frank Piegari  Hello Saints! With Thanksgiving and finals right around the corner, there is no shortage of things to do this week at the University of Saint Francis. To kick things off tonight (11/28), the Justice League will be hosting another Tabletop Game Night beginning at 7 p.m. in Motherhouse room C305. But that's not all we have. Beginning at 7 p.m., the Asian American Student Association will be hosting a Filipino Family Night in the Abbey Lounge located in Marion Hall. The event will feature food and karaoke so if you're interested, be sure to stop by. On Tuesday (11/29), the Criminal Justice and Pre-Law Society and the Social Work Club will be hosting a screening of the documentary "Jacinta". The screening begins at 5:30 in San Damiano Hall and will be followed up by a discussion and attendees will also have the opportunity to make a Christmas card for an incarcerated person. On Wednesday (11/30), the girls basketball team has a home game at 7 p.m. against ...
Post a Comment
Read more