The Cook County sheriff’s officers accused of chasing and shooting at a Blue Island couple after a 1999 traffic altercation made no attempt to declare their office or stop the couple’s sport-utility vehicle before shooting out its rear window, the SUV’s driver testified Friday in Cook County Criminal Court.
Cory Simmons, 25, said he was trying to elude the Chevy Suburban carrying the off-duty officers when he wound his way through Robbins on June 2, 1999, and shots were fired.
“I heard the window bust out and I saw a white light,” he said, but he didn’t specify how many shots he heard.
Prosecutors allege that Sgt. Thomas Lanigan, 37, of Thornton fired the weapon and Deputy Anthony Bohling, 34, of Indiana drove the Suburban. Both face charges of attempted murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, official misconduct and obstruction of justice. Three other officers are charged with official misconduct.
The officers contend they thought they were dealing with a reckless driver and believed they had been shot at first. On cross-examination, Simmons admitted he consciously drove by the Robbins Police Department more than once as the Suburban followed him through the suburb.
Defense attorneys also focused on what they say are inconsistencies in Simmons’ account of the events of that night.
