$1 million bond for man charged with shooting CPD officer in Englewood; officer's release from hospital delayed
CHICAGO (CBS) – A Chicago Police officer's release from the hospital has been delayed after he was shot and wounded over the weekend in Englewood.
As CBS 2's Tara Molina reported, Officer Erik Moreno was expected to be released from the University of Chicago Medical Center Tuesday, but the release date has been delayed. Moreno is having some more tests and labs run and now cannot be released until the results are back.
Outside the hospital, Chicago Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara spoke about Moreno and how he is doing.
"Regrettably, you know, I know Officer Moreno wanted to go home really bad today, but apparently when he was getting ready to leave, he felt a little lightheaded. He hadn't eaten all day, so they're going to give him some more food, do a couple more tests just to make sure," Catanzara said. "He may be let out later today, or probably more likely tomorrow."
Jerome Halsey, 27, stands charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault on accusations that he shot Officer Moreno. His bond was set at $1 million Tuesday.
Around 2 p.m. Sunday, police said Officer Moreno pulled a car over in an unmarked police vehicle in the 6900 block of South Sangamon Street in Englewood.
Prosecutors said three uniformed police officers saw Halsey driving erratically, and his brake lights were out. We have learned from police that Officer Moreno was behind the wheel of the unmarked squad car.
Halsey turned into an alley and kept speeding until stopping his car at a dead end, prosecutors said.
Officer Moreno got out of the squad car and walked up to Halsey, prosecutors said. Moreno was feet away from the driver's side door when prosecutors say Halsey "opened the door and fired a gun."
Officer Moreno was shot in the arm and torso. He was able to fire back at Halsey, prosecutors said.
Meanwhile, the second officer involved fired 10 shots at Halsey while Halsey turned in his direction with the gun, prosecutors said. The third officer also saw Halsey pointing the gun in his direction and firing.
The third officer took cover behind the police car and rendered aid to Officer Moreno, prosecutors said. Moreno made it to the back of the police car and got on his knees, and observed blood coming from his own left shoulder and arm, prosecutors said.
As of Tuesday, Halsey remained hospitalized at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with a gunshot wound to the chest and leg.
In court, a prosecutor said Halsey had a gun case on May 10, 2019, consisting of two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and got one year of probation. Halsey filed to have the cases expunged in March, but records are not clear on what happened after that.
Halsey had two extended magazines that matched the 9mm Glock he fired at the officers, prosecutors said.
The defense for Halsey noted that he has both a Firearm Owners Identification Card and a concealed carry license.
The judge ruled that even though the squad car was unmarked, Halsey saw the officers in uniform and knew he was being pulled over for traffic violations.
So far this year, five Chicago police officers have been shot, and 20 others have been shot at.
