"There's No Racism or Injustice in America's Legal System Today"
Jan 07, 2012 at 10:16 pm Bail was denied today for two Chicago men charged in connection with the slaying of an off-duty Chicago police officer. Clifton Lewis, 41, an eight-year police veteran, was fatally shot during a Dec. 29 robbery at a West Side convenience store. Tyrone Clay, 29, and Edgardo Colon, 34, both of Chicago, were charged early Saturday with murder while in commission of an armed robbery and first-degree murder of a peace officer, said Cook County state's attorney spokeswoman Sally Daly. "I stood here a week ago today almost with a heavy heart, and I stand here today with my heart being a little bit lighter," First Deputy Superintendent Alfonza Wysinger said at a news conference at the Austin District police station, to which Lewis was assigned. Police said the investigation started with a traffic stop that Grand Central District officers made. "The process that we've been using is basic tried and true police work," said Superintendent Garry McCarthy at the news conference. "We've had police officers on the street in uniform making arrests, debriefing prisoners, gathering intelligence, gathering clues, getting tips from the public, pursuing each one, and as they die down ... we drop it and go to the next hottest ones." McCarthy was careful about releasing details of the case, citing the ongoing investigation. "We're pleased, but we're not even close to being through with this investigation, arrest and prosecution," McCarthy said. "There is a ton of work to do. This is merely some progress in the case."
---------------
Wednesday, June 21, 2023 10:24PM -- Charges were dropped Wednesday against two of the three men accused of killing an off-duty Chicago police officer in 2011, the latest twist in a case marred by allegations of misconduct by police and prosecutors. Tyrone Clay faced nearly 80 felony counts and Edgardo Colon was charged with 18 counts in connection with the fatal shooting of veteran Officer Clifton Lewis during the robbery of an Austin convenience store. Those charges were dismissed ahead of a hearing where detectives and prosecutors were to be questioned under oath about their handling of the case. As the hearing was set to open, Assistant State's Attorney Kevin DeBoni announced that all charges were dismissed. "In light of previous rulings... and after thorough and exhaustive review of the remaining evidence in this case... at this time we do not believe we can meet our burden at trial," DeBoni said. Clay walked out of Cook County Jail a free man with his hands held high Wednesday night. "It feels good after 12 years," he said. "Feels real good." The dismissal comes a week after the state's attorney's office had filed a motion seeking to bar testimony from Andrew Varga, a longtime prosecutor often assigned to high-profile cases, and Nancy Adduci, a respected assistant state's attorney who was removed from her post as head of the office's Conviction Integrity Unit last year. Clay, accused of being one of the gunmen, will be released from the Cook County Jail as soon as today after spending more than 12 years locked up awaiting trial.
"You'll be counting years, first 5 then 10. Growing old in a lonely hell. 'Round the yard in a stinkin' cell, from wall to wall, then back again..." ~Pogues.
It can't happen here.
/s
---------------------
*To Knock You Over the Head w/How It Work(ed) in Cook County:
This isn't a reversed conviction. They spend 12 years in jail* awaiting trail. In America. Let that sink in...
(Cook County jail = worse than prison. No oversight of rights. 2 newspapers still in town, but toothless for years... Our America today. Somebody make another cops/courts TV show?)
<< Home