Chaos At The Courthouse As Accused Chicago Officer Makes Bail
(CBS) – Pushing, shoving, cameras colliding – it was utter chaos outside the Cook County Jail Monday as Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke was released on $1.5 million bond.
CBS 2's Brad Edwards reviews the skirmish.
Van Dyke, 37, emerged from the lockup wearing a black hoodie, keeping his head down. He was surrounded by friends, family members and police union comrades. They all converged with several reporters and photographers as the officer tried to walk the 30 yards to the waiting black pickup truck that ultimately whisked him away.
Van Dyke is charged with murder in the October 2014 death of Laquan McDonald. Authorities say he, without justification, shot 16 rounds into the 17-year-old African American when police responded to a call about vandalism.
McDonald had been armed with a knife. A dash-cam video released last week appears to show the teen walking away from Van Dyke and another officer when the gunshots begin.
His attorney says there's more to the story than the images on the dash-cam.
"I came to the conclusion that it's a case that's absolutely defensible," Van Dyke's attorney, Daniel Herbert, said Monday.
Van Dyke surrendered his guns and firearm owner identification card.
