Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO — An off-duty Chicago police officer is under investigation after he was accused of firing several shots at an off-duty south suburban officer who tried to pull him over on suspicion of drunken driving over the weekend, authorities said.
The officer from Merrionette Park was not hit and the Chicago officer was taken into custody after the Sunday night confrontation, sources said. Charges were pending against the Chicago officer.
That officer, assigned to the Morgan Park District, was stopped around 4:30 p.m. Sunday on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to a statement from Police News Affairs.
The officer was driving with another off-duty officer in Merrionette Park when a police officer from the suburb, who also was off-duty, tried to pull them over, sources said. The Chicago officer took off and the Merrionette Park officer pursued him, the sources said.
The pursuit ended in the 1900 block of West Pryor Avenue, a block north of the Morgan Park District station, sources said. The Chicago officer got out of his car and went after the Merrionette Park officer, firing several shots, the sources said.
The Chicago officer was arrested by Chicago police nearby, sources said.
The News Affairs statement did not contain details of the incident but acknowledged that “there are also reports the officer discharged a weapon and that is currently under investigation.”
“If the allegations are true, the actions and behavior demonstrated by this officer are beyond unacceptable, have absolutely no place in our department, and he will be separated from CPD,” the statement said.
The Chicago officer has been stripped of his police powers while the incident is being investigated, according to the statement.
Merrionette Park police were not available for comment.
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