CHICAGO (WLS) — The individual accused of fatally shooting Chicago Police Department officer John Bartholomew is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.
Alphanso Talley, who faces charges for the incident that resulted in Officer Bartholomew’s death and left his partner severely injured, is once again under scrutiny. This case has sparked debate over why a known repeat offender with a history of violent felonies was not incarcerated despite ongoing criminal activity.
Critics are also raising concerns about the effectiveness of Cook County’s electronic monitoring system alongside the Illinois SAFE-T Act, questioning their role in such situations.
According to court documents, Talley had an outstanding arrest warrant for a carjacking and armed robbery prior to the tragic shooting on Saturday. This occurred after he had been apprehended earlier that same day for another armed robbery.
A judge had previously released Talley, who has a record of seven felony convictions, on electronic monitoring. However, he violated this condition by failing to appear in court in March to address those charges.
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The 26-year-old has been charged with over six felonies since 2017, highlighting a persistent pattern of criminal behavior.
The tragedy has sparked renewed discussion and conversations.
While some republicans are calling for changes to the SAFE-T Act, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is criticizing Judge John Lyke, who released Talley on electronic monitoring before last Saturday’s shooting.
“The question is no longer if reform is needed, it’s how many more tragedies need to happen before action has taken place,” said State Rep. Tony McCombie, House Republican Leader. “With just four weeks left in session, the time for conversation is over. The time for action is now.”
“Well, what played a role here was that the judge who had the ability to keep the person in jail, didn’t,” Pritzker said.
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Supporters of pre-trial release say that 94-percent of those released pending trial – never commit another crime.
Meanwhile, questions remain over how Talley got the gun into Swedish Hospital that day.
Sources told ABC7 that Talley was likely searched three times without a weapon being detected. They add he may have hidden the weapon in his body.
At last check, Officer Bartholomew’s partner is still in critical condition.
Illinois Republican leaders in Springfield are calling for changes in the law that allows criminal defendants to be released on electronic monitoring while awaiting trial.
It’s the latest fallout from the weekend shooting that killed one Chicago police officer and critically wounded another.
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Seven-time felon Alphanso Talley was on electronic monitoring when he failed show up for court in March to face carjacking and armed robbery charges.
A judge issued an arrest warrant, which was still pending when police say Talley shot and killed Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew and wounded his partner at Swedish Hospital Saturday after being arrested for an armed robbery hours earlier.
“The question is no longer if reform is needed, it’s how many more tragedies need to happen before action has taken place,” said State Rep. Tony McCombie, House Republican Leader. “With just four weeks left in session, the time for conversation is over. The time for action is now.”
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Republicans have now filed bills in the Illinois House and Senate that would automatically revoke the pre-trial release of anyone who, while on electronic monitoring, commits a felony.
“This is saying that if you get a get out of free jail card, and you get a second chance, and you mess that up by committing a another felony while on release, you don’t get any more chances,” said State Sen. John Curran, Senate Republican Leader.
Supporters of pre-trial release note that 94% of those who are released pending trial never commit another crime. They say public policy should not be dictated by individual incidents.
“We shouldn’t be trying to just score political, cheap political points based on a tragedy such as this,” said Ed Yohnka with ACLU of Illinois. “Public safety is a complicated issue.”
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“Letting violent offenders out over and over again to commit more violent crimes isn’t creating less prisoners, it’s creating more victims and more chaos,” Sen. Curran said.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said he has not seen the Republican proposals, but in the hospital shooting, he put the blame not on the SAFE-T Act, but on Judge John Lyke, who put Talley on electronic monitoring.
“Well, what played a role here was that the judge who had the ability to keep the person in jail, didn’t,” Pritzker said.
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