By Stefano Esposito, Chicago Sun Times
Cook County Judge Stanley Sacks is known to speak bluntly and snarl at attorneys who ignore court rules.
But Sacks’ salty outbursts Thursday stunned even veteran court observers when the judge twice used the “F” word as he found Chicago cop Alonzo Caudillo guilty of reckless homicide in the January 2003 death of Jadzia Bobek. Sacks also tore into Chicago Police investigators, accusing them of protecting one of their own after Caudillo told his fellow cops at the crime scene, “I’m a cop.”
“They show [Caudillo] professional courtesy, just walk him to the car,” Sacks said. “You know damn well, if that guy was a brother from the projects, a guy on his way home from work, he’d have been in handcuffs up against the car in five seconds, but no, not Caudillo -- ‘I’m a cop.’ ”
Sacks was just getting started.
“What any logically minded cop would have done is, pardon my language, say, ‘So what the f--- do I care if you’re a cop. You just hit that girl down the street. Up against the car!’ ”
As Sacks spoke, most in the gallery sat stone still, hanging on every word. Bobek’s boyfriend, surrounded by the victim’s family, wept and rocked back and forth.
Struck woman, trees, building
In closing arguments Thursday, prosecutors said an off-duty Caudillo, after a night of drinking, sped north along the 3000 block of North Milwaukee Avenue in his Jeep on Jan. 12, 2003. At some point, Caudillo crossed the center lane into oncoming traffic and then struck Bobek, 19, as she and her mother were crossing the street. Caudillo’s driving was so out of control he not only struck Bobek, dragging her under his car, but also hit two trees and a parking meter before crashing into a building, prosecutors said.
Investigators at the scene said Caudillo smelled of alcohol and had glassy, bloodshot eyes, but Caudillo refused to take a Breathalyzer or any other test, prosecutors said.
The defense said the case was a tragic accident but did not rise to the level of reckless homicide. They pointed out Caudillo didn’t smell strongly of alcohol and wasn’t even issued a speeding ticket at the time.
Faces up to 5 years
Sacks said he didn’t have enough evidence to find Caudillo guilty of driving drunk, but said it was clear his driving was completely out of control.
And just before Caudillo -- who is out on bond -- left the courtroom, Sacks told him not to make any “long-range plans.”
“Mr. Caudillo, I assume you love your wife and son?” Sacks asked. “Get used to them for the next month.”
Caudillo, 35, faces anything from probation to five years in prison at his Nov. 16 sentencing.
Chicago Police spokesman Dave Bayless said Caudillo, who has been on desk duty since the incident, will be fired. Bayless dismissed accusations Caudillo got preferential treatment.
“He’s obligated to tell officers he’s a police officer, and he met that obligation,” Bayless said. “And the court and the [Chicago Police] department are holding him accountable for his actions.”