Charges Dropped Against Man Shot By Cops In 'Disturbing' Incident

CHICAGO, IL — Two days after a man was shot twice by police at a CTA station, the Chicago Police Department said it is asking Cook County St...

CHICAGO, IL — Two days after a man was shot twice by police at a CTA station, the Chicago Police Department said it is asking Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx to drop the resisting arrest and narcotics charges against the man. The move came after a video captured by a citizen showed police struggling with the man, who appeared to be unarmed, during rush hour the Grand Red Line station.

In the video — called "extremely disturbing" by Mayor Lori Lightfoot — the officers struggle with a man, later identified as Ariel Roman, after police said he was moving from train car to train car. The video shows the officers grapple with the man at the bottom of an escalator, ordering him to stop resisting and deploying their Tasers.

At one point, at Roman staggers to his feet, a male officer can be heard saying, "shoot him," and a female officer pulls out pepper spray and sprays him.

When Tim woke up to an open car door, he checked the footage from his Ring Security Cam to help solve the case. He was shocked to see that a bear was to blame for the incident.

As Roman is wiping his eyes, the female officer can be seen drawing her gun as she orders Roman to put his hands down.

A gunshot can then be heard on the video, and Roman flees, running up the escalator. Another shot is heard off camera as the officers pursue the man up the stairs.

Police said Roman was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he had surgery but remained in critical but stable condition.

On Sunday, Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said Superintendent Charlie Beck asked Foxx to drop the charges against Roman.

"Given the totality of circumstances and the Department's significant level of concern around this incident, it would be insensitive to advocate for these charges," police said. "While we will not rush to judgment, the level of concern over the tactics used in this incident is significant. We are cooperating fully with the independent use of force investigation by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability and the underlying criminal review being conducted at our request by the Cook County State's Attorney and the FBI."

Police said Beck was "extremely concerned" about the incident. Both officers involved in the shooting have placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of an investigation.