Crime & Safety
Jason Van Dyke Moved To Jail On Illinois-Iowa Border
The convicted Chicago cop was transferred Tuesday from Cook Co. Jail because of his high-profile, not because of any threats or incidents.
ROCK ISLAND COUNTY, IL — Chicago police Ofc. Jason Van Dyke, who was convicted last week of second-degree murder in the 2014 shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, has been transferred to county jail in the Quad Cities, near the Illinois-Iowa border. He was moved to the Rock Island County Jail on Tuesday and is being held in protective custody, away from general population, while he awaits sentencing, the Chicago Tribune reports.
According to the Cook County Sheriff's Office, Van Dyke wasn't transferred because of any incidents at Cook County Jail or a threat to his safety, the report stated. His high-profile status made him a candidate for the move, and he joins a list of 45 Cook County inmates — that includes Shomari Legghette, the man accused of fatally shooting Chicago police Cmdr. Paul Bauer earlier this year — who have been transferred to other facilities around the state, the report added.
Van Dyke was convicted Friday, Oct. 5, of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm in the fatal shooting of McDonald. Van Dyke was found not guilty of official misconduct, but his bond was revoked following the verdict.
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More Patch Coverage:
- Van Dyke Atty. Warns Of 'Ferguson Effect' Amid Historic Verdict
- Van Dyke Jurors Say His Testimony Hurt Case: 'We Didn't Buy It'
- South Sider Made Threat To Officials During Van Dyke Trial: Cops
When Van Dyke was taken to Cook County Jail after the conviction, he was held in the jail infirmary for several nights, according to the Tribune. While there, he received a routine psychological examination, the report added.
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The sentencing process for Van Dyke will begin with a hearing Oct. 31. Along with the jury convictions, the officer still faces being held in contempt of court by Judge Vincent Gaughan for giving media interviews before the trial, actions that could be deemed in defiance of the judge's modified gag order.
Jason Van Dyke (Photo via Cook County Sheriff's Office)
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