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| TV star Jussie Smollett (inset) told police he was the victim of an anti-black, anti-gay hate crime near this intersection. |
FULL UPDATE POSTED HERE: Police confirm Smollett told them to turn off their body cameras before taking his report. Still no video of attackers, police say. Investigation continues. MORE.
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We’ve had quite a few inquiries regarding a claim by “Empire” TV series star Jussie Smollett that he was attacked early Tuesday in Streeterville by masked men who made anti-gay and anti-black comments, put a noose around his neck and threw bleach on him.
Chicago police were out in force rounding up video and other potential evidence today. As of 2:45 p.m., investigators had not found any footage of the alleged offenders.
Here are a few things that we can share:
• A man who identified himself as “Frank” called 911 around 2:32 a.m. Tuesday from a luxury apartment at 340 East North Water Street. Police arrived about 10 minutes later.
• The man stated that his friend had been assaulted and battered when he walked outside of his apartment, according to dispatch records. Frank stated that his friend is “well-known” and they want a report. Frank stated that a noose was placed over his friend’s neck. There is no mention of bleach in the dispatch record.
• Frank refused EMS services for Smollett, according to dispatch records.
• Officers were on-scene at the apartment for slightly more than an hour.
From experienced observers, the most interesting part of the dispatch records is this: Responding officers never issued a “flash message” to give descriptions of the offenders to units in the field.
Police have made “good progress” in their investigation, according to a CPD source…
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