Chicago Cop In Laquan McDonald Shooting In Contempt: Prosecutors

CHICAGO — Special prosecutors in the murder trial of Chicago police Ofc. Jason Van Dyke are asking for the judge to hold him in contempt of court following media interviews he gave this week. A motion filed Thursday contends that Van Dyke's comments in those interviews broke the rules governing the discussion of information set up by the presiding judge, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Van Dyke is on trial stemming from the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald during an incident on the South Side on Oct. 20, 2014. He has pleaded not guilty to six counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery, one count for each time McDonald was shot. Van Dyke also faces a count of official misconduct.

Along with the contempt charge, prosecutors also want Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan to either increase Van Dyke's bail or have him taken into custody, the report stated. A special hearing before Gaughan will be held Saturday morning, the report added.

This week, Van Dyke gave an interview with the Tribune, and audio from that 40-minute talk was aired on WBEZ-FM (91.5). He also spoke with Fox 32 Chicago.

Latest Patch Coverage:

'I'm Not A Racist,' Says Chicago Cop In Laquan McDonald Shooting: Jason Van Dyke spoke publicly for the 1st time in nearly 4 years Tuesday, days before his first-degree murder trial is set to start.

Laquan McDonald Case: Judge To Pick Trial Venue After Jury Chosen: Jason Van Dyke, the Chicago police officer facing murder charges in the shooting, can get a fair trial in Cook Co., the judge says.

3 Chicago Cops Indicted In Alleged Cover-Up Of Shooting: The special prosecutor accuses the trio of doing more than obeying a "code of silence" surrounding the shooting investigation.

No Fair Trial In Cook Co. For Cop In Laquan McDonald Case: Motion: Van Dyke wants a change of venue for his upcoming trial, according to a motion that was unsealed this week.

Date Set For Jason Van Dyke's Murder Trial: The defense is still fighting for the proceedings to be held outside of Cook County.

Prosecutors argue that Van Dyke's interviews broke Gaughan's restriction prohibiting law enforcement employees in the case and individuals who might testify from talking extensively about the case outside of court, the report stated. Jury selection in the trial is set for Wednesday, Sept. 5.

In a statement later Thursday, Dan Herbert, Van Dyke's lawyer, criticized the prosecutorial move as an attempt at restricting his client's right to express himself, the report said. Herbert argued that Van Dyke was careful about what information he shared in the interviews and that nothing he said violated Gaughan's rules, the report added.

“He expressed his personal feelings, the impact this had had on his family and his hopes that protests will be peaceful and no [one] will be hurt in the city," Herbert's statement said.

Earlier this week, community activists privately met with Chicago police and special prosecutors to lay the groundwork concerning any demonstrations that would be held outside the Leighton Criminal Court Building, 2650 S. California Ave. Sources told the Tribune that protests would be limited to gated lawn areas near the building's north and south entrances.

Although a permit allows protests at the courthouse during the trial, police told activists they would not be allowed to demonstrate on the building's steps or the surrounding street and sidewalks, the report stated. Activists argue that such restrictions limit their First Amendment rights to assemble, but organizers maintain they will have a presence outside the building for the entire trial, the report added.

More via the Chicago Tribune

Chicago police Ofc. Jason Van Dyke in 2015. (Photo by Zbigniew Bzdak-Pool | Getty Images)