A white Chicago police officer charged with murder after a squad vehicle video showed him fatally shooting a black teenager 16 times posted a $1.5 million bond Monday.
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Ben Breit, a Cook County sheriff’s department spokesman, confirmed that Van Dyke, who has been held in jail since last Tuesday, posted $150,000 – 10% of the total bond – about five hours after Judge Panarese issued his order, and has been released.
Last week, under court order, Chicago police released the video of the shooting that happened more than a year ago. “He is prepared to defend himself”, said Dan Herbert, Van Dyke’s attorney.
“I think that the fact that it took her 400 days to prosecute means whatever her charge, is she the one who ought to be doing the charge?”civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton asked”.
Authorities also released the dashcam video November 24. And Alvarez has maintained she was waiting for federal investigators to wrap up their own investigation, but finally chose to move forward on her own out of concern for “public safety” after Emanuel was ordered to release the shooting video.
Embroiled in a political firestorm over his city’s handling of a shocking police shooting, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is seeking to mend fences.
The judge wanted to view the video of the shooting before deciding on a bond amount. Portions of the video showing the fatal shooting were played in court.
Van Dyke appeared in court with his hands and feet in shackles and wore a Department of Corrections coverall. Authorities say he, without justification, shot 16 rounds into the 17-year-old African American when police responded to a call about vandalism.
In the audio-free video from October 20, 2014, McDonald can be seen walking down the middle of a four-lane street.
McCarthy’s resignation is an essential first step for a city that must pursue new strategies to curtail gun violence and reform an unhealthy police culture of weak accountability. But he added that the mother has had a “mixed reaction” to the release and is “relieved” that Van Dyke is facing criminal charges.
Alvarez said several civilians witnessed the shooting. A prayer vigil was held outside Chicago Police Headquarters at 35th and MI on Monday night.
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Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said Friday he will not resign and “What I will tell you is that the mayor has made it very clear that he has my back”. Prosecutors say 14 to 15 seconds passed between the first shot at the last, and that McDonald was crumpled on the ground for 13 seconds.
