Harvey school board member, city employee faces sex assault charge

HARVEY, Ill. (WLS) -- A south suburban Harvey school board member who is a long-time city employee appeared in court on Tuesday, accused of sexually assaulting a women in the city's municipal center.

Tyrone Rogers, 59, is charged with one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault.

He sits on the Harvey School District 152 board and serves as the city's director of commuter parking. He has been placed on unpaid administrative leave and possibly faces termination.

"There's no room for official misconduct. The offices belong to the people of Harvey. They pay for these offices and they should be able to come to city hall and receive credible services. That's what we always want to offer," said Harvey spokesman Sean Howard.

A 49-year-old woman alleges that she went to the Harvey Municipal Center, in the 15300-block of South Broadway Avenue, at about 1 p.m. Friday to meet with Rogers to discuss a village issue on behalf of a friend, officials said.

"The victim had sought out Tyrone Rogers with this problem because she knew he worked for the city of Harvey and she had known him for many years since he had previously been married to a member of her family," said Tom Driscoll, a Cook County assistant state's attorney.

Rogers allegedly took her into his office, locked the door and sexually assaulted her, police said.

"Once in his office, the defendant grabbed the victim's hand and announced that he wanted to have sex with her for a very long time," said Driscoll.

After Rogers sexually assaulted the woman, she ran out of his office, injuring her ankle, investigators said.

The woman reported the incident Friday evening and Rogers was taken into custody Saturday.

At Rogers home, family members declined comment.

His wife of five years also serves on the school board, and they are known as a politically influential couple in the south suburbs.

Harvey city officials said another woman came forward Tuesday morning alleging that she too had been assaulted by Rogers. They have forwarded the information to the Cook County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating the case.