An investigation into the actions of an officer accused of beating a 15-year-old boy could take longer than expected because the teen and his family have refused to speak to investigators, city officials said. Don Pennington Jr., 15, alleged last month that Officer Louis Picicco beat him while he was in police custody on Aug. 28. Picicco was placed on paid administrative leave Sept. 10 until the investigation is complete. The teen, accused of two counts of battery against a police officer, is scheduled to appear today in juvenile court for a status hearing. His mother said she just wants to put the entire incident behind her and until then is under advisement from attorneys who are representing the family in both the criminal case and the federal civil rights lawsuit against the police department. "He's not talking to the state's attorney's office because they are prosecuting him," said Vicki Pennington, the boy's mother. Mayor Michelle Markiewicz Qualkinbush said she believes the city prosecutor, not the state's attorney, is prosecuting the boy. In truth, the city, through its Police Department, can only ask the state's attorney's office to approve charges. Once approved, state's attorneys are the prosecutors in the case, not city prosecutors or police.After being arested for violating the city's jaywalking ordinance the teen alleged he was brutally beaten by police. [more
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