Lawsuit filed against Chicago and CPD in fatal shooting of Dexter Reed

CHICAGO — In the 81-page lawsuit, attorneys argue that Chicago police officers had no right to pull Dexter Reed over in the first place and then used excessive force when the first shot was fired.

“Dexter Reed is not alive today because of the actions of these police officers and the inaction of the city of Chicago,” civil rights attorney Andrew Stroth said.

The attorneys who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the family held a press conference outside of the CPD 11th district headquarters Wednesday morning. Reed’s parents and other family members were present.

“We ask the city to examine their own policies and procedures — reacquaint themselves with the Consent Decree and the obligations that they vowed to abide by and ultimately to ensure and put in safeguards that this does not continue to happen to our children and loved ones,” Reed family attorney Steven Hart said.

The attorneys accuse the city and the police department of not following its own procedures and failing to comply with the federal Consent Decree put in place after the fatal Laquan McDonald shooting.

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They also argue that instead of deescalating the situation after Reed was forced to pull over last March, they did the opposite by screaming commands with their guns drawn.

The lawsuit also states the 26-year-old was living with physical and mental disabilities, like PTSD, although attorneys would not get into details during the press conference.

Police records show Reed was out on bond for a firearm charge and retail theft at the time of the shooting.

Body camera footage of the March traffic stop, and shooting was released to the public April 9, showing Reed in the driver’s seat with five plain-clothed officers rushing out of an unmarked vehicle towards him.

COPA says Reed was pulled over for a seatbelt violation and that Reed fired first, hitting an officer in the arm.

The head of COPA wrote a letter to CPD Supt. Larry Snelling questioning the ability of the officers to see the seatbelt violation partially due to the tinted glass on the car and she questioned the 96 rounds officers fired at Reed including while he was on the ground.

COPA’s chief has also been doing media interviews since the release of the video footage, something the superintendent has called “inappropriate” while the shooting is still being investigated.

Those behind the lawsuit, including Reed’s family, say not only was the traffic stop inappropriate but unlawful and so was the force used.

“He was going down the street minding his business and at one point the officers turned down the street and blocked him off. They never announced they were officers. They had hoodies. If that were me, I would be totally terrified,” Reed’s uncle Roosevelt Banks III said.

The Chicago Police Department has a long-standing policy of not commenting on pending litigation.

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