A man with a criminal record spanning nearly ten years, charged with the murder of a police officer, was seen laughing in court on Thursday. Prosecutors argued for him to be detained without bail.
Alphanso Talley, 27, stands accused of fatally shooting 38-year-old Chicago Police Department officer John Bartholomew last Saturday at Swedish Hospital. During the incident, Talley also allegedly wounded another officer.
During the court session, Judge D’Anthony Thedford paused the proceedings to admonish Talley, instructing him to “stop the giggling” as the prosecution made their case.
Charged with murder, Talley faces allegations of shooting two police officers. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office has reported these charges.
Authorities arrested Talley on Saturday following an alleged armed robbery at a Family Dollar store. In this incident, he is accused of assaulting a female employee with a pistol and taking her wallet and keys.
After his arrest, Talley claimed to have ingested narcotics, prompting authorities to transport him to the hospital.
While he was awaiting a CT scan, police say he pulled a gun from underneath a blanket and shot both officers, killing Bartholomew. He is also accused of attempting to escape custody.
Talley has been charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated unlawful restraint, armed robbery, aggravated discharge of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated battery of a peace officer, aggravated battery, escape and unlawful use of a weapon.
John Bartholomew was shot and killed on Saturday at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital. (Chicago Police Department)
“Facts of this case clearly lay out that the defendant certainly committed these offenses,” prosecutors said while arguing for his detainment.
“He was going to attempt an escape when he pretended to swallow drugs,” they continued. “He knew police would take him to the hospital for his own well-being. He knew he would be uncuffed at that time. He did that to officers who simply took him to the hospital for his own well-being.”
The courtroom was packed for Talley’s Thursday hearing. Some of Bartholomew’s family members, along with CPD officers and even some elected officials, were present.
Chicago police officers stand outside a hospital in Chicago awaiting updates on two officers shot during a prisoner transport incident at Swedish Hospital on April 25, 2026. A suspect was taken into custody after a brief manhunt in the neighborhood. (Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Ultimately, Thedford decided not to release Talley from custody before his trial.
“It is clear to this court that you pose a threat to any person you’re around,” he said. “If you’re out — you’re dangerous. I cannot trust that you will follow any orders that this court gives. No conditions that I can propose can keep the community safe from you.”
Chicago Police Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara Jr. slammed Talley and members of his family who were present in court after the hearing.
‘If you’re in the courtroom, I think you got a sense of why this kid turned out the way he did with the family support,” he said. “And I use that very loosely that he has, the smug attitude, the smiling, the smirking, the laughing, the ‘I love you’ from the family. Even after hearing the despicable acts that this piece of s— did.
“It’s appalling. It’s disgusting. It’s the reason the death penalty should still be in Illinois. Because he would certainly be, exhibit A, for a death penalty case. There is no redeeming quality of this kid,” he said. “There just isn’t. He’s stealing oxygen from the rest of us. And, there’s no doubt of his guilt there.”
In a separate post-hearing news conference, Chicago Alderman James Gardiner slammed Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson, calling him “an embarrassment to this city.”
According to Illinois Department of Corrections records, Talley has a lengthy rap sheet consisting of violent crimes from the past nine years. It includes a conviction for four counts of aggravated robbery with a firearm in 2017, unlawful use or possession of a firearm by a felon with a prior conviction in 2021, battery on a peace officer in 2023 and possession/aiding and abetting a stolen motor vehicle.
Police responded to a shooting at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital in Chicago on April 25, 2026. (WFLD)
Despite his criminal record, Talley was out of jail on pretrial release stemming from a previous armed robbery case when he allegedly killed Bartholomew.
ABC 7 reported that in December, Judge John Lyke, who has presided over Talley’s criminal cases for at least three years, said, “It appears [Talley’s] mind is finally developing, and he may be on the path to making better decisions,” before releasing him from custody in relation to a separate legal matter with only an ankle monitor.
A warrant for his arrest was issued on March 11 while he was on pretrial release for the alleged armed robbery after he had two electronic monitor violations in early March, according to court documents.
Talley is due back in court on May 20.
