CPD: We won’t file charges against the guy our officer shot on the Red Line

A man identified by police as Ariel Roman wipes his eyes seconds before being shot by a CPD officer on Feb. 28, 2020. Roman (inset) will not face charges in connection with the incident, a police spokesperson said. | CPD

Chicago police will not pursue charges against the apparently unarmed man who was shot by an officer at the Grand Red Line station on Friday afternoon, according to CPD’s chief spokesperson.

“Chicago Police Supt. Charlie Beck has asked Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx to drop the resisting arrest and criminal narcotics charges that have been lodged against [Ariel Roman] by the CPD,” Anthony Guglielmi said in a press statement. “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.”

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Friday called the officer’s decision to shoot Roman, “potential[ly] criminal.” 

Video posted online shows officers pepper-sprayed Roman and deployed at least one Taser before an officer shoots him at the base of a subway escalator. Roman then heads up the escalator and a second gunshot is heard as the two officers follow behind him.

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One shot struck Roman in the abdomen. The other in the buttocks, according to his attorney, Gloria Schmidt Rodriguez.

“While we will not rush to judgment, the level of concern over the tactics used in this incident is significant,” Guglielmi continued. “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.”

Roman was listed in critical but stable condition on Friday night.

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CWBChicago was created in 2013 by five residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who had grown disheartened with inaccurate information that was being provided at local Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Our coverage area has expanded since then to cover Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown, and other North Side Areas. But our mission remains unchanged: To provide original public safety reporting with better context and greater detail than mainstream media outlets. Our editorial email address is news@cwbchicago.com