“The law gives a presumption of innocence”. He has been in custody since Tuesday when he was charged with first-degree murder. He said he wanted to chain the doors shut. In the days since, hundreds of demonstrators have rallied to mostly peaceful protests across the city, including demonstrations that blocked shoppers from stores on Michigan Avenue as holiday shopping season kicked off Friday. Complaints against police are not uncommon, but the number filed against Van Dyke was high compared with other officers. Van Dyke posted bond and was released from jail shortly after 5 p.m. Monday. His office says the task force will review the Chicago Police Department’s current systems for accountability, oversight and training. The officer was charged with first-degree murder Tuesday in the death of McDonald, and has since been released on bail.
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Lamon Reccord, an organizer of the protests, expressed frustration that Van Dyke was able to post bail. The mayor, McCarthy and Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez have faced criticism for taking 13 months to release the video of the shooting and to charge Van Dyke. Witness interviews had been done over the past year, and “up until a week ago they were still interviewing people”, she said. “Well, no, I’m not going to resign”. “I would say within a month”. “This video”, she said, “will tear at the hearts of all Chicagoans”.
“To watch a 17-year-old young man die in such a violent manner is deeply disturbing”, the prosecutor said. He calls 2015 a watershed year in terms of policing and accountability, and the McDonald death represents something more fundamental than just a bad shooting.
The footage has fuelled an already acrimonious national debate about racism and the use of deadly force by officers. The fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald, 17, by Officer Jason Van Dyke was captured on the dashboard camera of a police auto at the scene.
Also on Tuesday, relatives of another person fatally shot past year by Chicago police stepped up their pleas to have the squad auto video made public. Four more dashcam videos have since been released, and none of the five have come with audio.
“Essentially rolling up on the individual, then jumping out of the auto and approaching him when they believe him to be armed and risky – when they do that, they are putting themselves in a situation in which they could reasonably believe their life is in danger”, Jenkins said. McDonald spins around and crumples to the ground.
“We don’t get an Officer Van Dyke view of that incident”. McDonald was killed by police gunfire in the middle of Pulaski Road, not far from the restaurant.
Emanuel praised the leadership of outgoing police Superintendent Garry McCarthy. He is due back in court for a status hearing on December 18. But the alderman remains disturbed that it wasn’t shown to council members or the public until a judge’s order forced its release just last week. “It is a work in progress as we continue to build the confidence and the trust by the public in our police force”.
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Brookins Jr. was prepared to vote in favor of a $5 million settlement for the family of Laquan McDonald. The examiner lists the 16 wounds one by one: left scalp, neck, chest, elbow, arms, legs, hand, back. Hiding behind the nudge-nudge, wink-wink veil of “ongoing investigation”, transparency in the shooting was fairly non-existent.
