CHICAGO (CBS) — The special prosecutor investigating allegations of a cover-up of the fatal police shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald has announced the indictment of three current or former police officers on felony conspiracy charges.
Special Prosecutor Patricia Brown Holmes said Det. David March and patrol officers Joseph Walsh and Thomas Gaffney have been charged with conspiracy, official misconduct, and obstruction of justice. The three allegedly conspired to try to “prevent or shape” an independent probe of McDonald’s shooting.
“The indictment makes clear that these defendants did more than merely obey an unofficial ‘code of silence,’ rather it alleges that they lied about what occurred to prevent independent criminal investigators from learning the truth,” Holmes said in a prepared statement.
Officer Jason Van Dyke has been charged with first-degree murder for shooting McDonald 16 times in October 2014, as the teen was apparently walking away from officers.
The Police Department has moved to fire Walsh, who was Van Dyke’s partner. Walsh was placed on administrative status in December 2015. March was the lead detective who ruled McDonald’s shooting justified.
Holmes said her office’s grand jury investigation is continuing.
March, 58; Walsh, 48; and Gaffney, 43; were expected to appear for arraignment on July 10.
Developing…
from CBS Chicago http://ift.tt/2tknkje
No comments:
Post a Comment