Cop Charged With Battery, Misconduct In Red Line Shooting

CHICAGO — A Chicago police officer has been charged with two felonies, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct, in connection with shooting a man twice at the Grand Red Line station in February of 2020.

According to a news release from the Cook County State's Attorney's office, Officer Melvina Bogard, 32, was on duty when she fired her weapon and shot Ariel Roman. The moments leading up to the shooting were recorded and shared widely on the internet.

RELATED: Twitter Video Of Cop Shooting On CTA Should Inspire Policy Change

Chicago police said in a statement that Roman was moving between two "L" cars when officers attempted to stop him. Court records detailed a conversation between Roman, Bogard and her partner in which Roman told officers he was moving between cars, a violation of city ordinance, because someone in the other car was bothering him.

When the train came to a stop, the officers followed Roman out onto the platform and repeatedly asked for his ID. Prosecutors said Roman opened his backpack and turned away from the police, which prompted the male officer to pull Roman back towards him.

A struggle followed at the station and two officers deployed their Tasers on him. Police said Bogard first pepper-sprayed Roman, but then shot him twice after he grabbed onto the other officer's Taser and handcuffs.

The officers, both with the department since November 2017, could stand to lose their jobs from the incident. Bogard was stripped of police powers in March 2020. Officials said the officers broke numerous rules, bringing discredit to the department and engaging in an unjustified verbal or physical altercation, along with demonstrating incompetence or inefficiency during the performance of their duties.

Video from the event shows Roman, Bogard and the other officer struggling to keep Roman on the ground inside the station at 521 North State Street.

In the video, Roman stands, and the officers tell him again to stop resisting. Bogard then draws her gun and tells Roman to put his hands down. She then fires a shot and Roman runs up the escalator towards street level. Bogard fires another shot as officers follow Roman to the top.

Court records state Bogard attempted to radio for assistance multiple times, but the transmission did not go through in the underground station.

Roman survived the shooting but suffered permanent damage to his hip and buttocks, his attorney told Patch. At the hospital, suspected cocaine and marijuana were found in his belongings.

RELATED: Police Narrative Doesn't Mention Cop Shot Man At Red Line Station

Following a review from the State's Attorney's Office's Law Enforcement Accountability Division, Bogard was charged.

Roman filed a federal lawsuit after the incident, alleging he was suffering from an anxiety attack when he was shot "without justification" by Bogard and fellow officer Bernard Butler.

At the time, interim Supt. Charlie Beck advocated for Roman's charges to be dropped due to the shooting. They eventually were, though Roman's attorney said he still owes half a million dollars in medical debt.

Bogard turned herself in to investigators Thursday morning and was released on her own recognizance by Judge Susana Ortiz during a bond hearing Thursday afternoon. She was also required to surrender her FOID card, as well as any concealed carry license she might have.