Chicago police lieutenant fourth officer charged with battery in recent weeks

A Chicago police lieutenant has been arrested over alleged excessive force in a February incident, marking the fourth time a police officer in the city has been charged with felony battery in recent weeks.

The Chicago Police Department said in a Thursday statement that Lt. Wilfredo Roman “surrendered for arrest to members of the Department’s Bureau of Internal Affairs at the 1st District Police Station.”

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office said in court documents shared with The Hill that Roman, who has been at the department since 2000, faces charges of aggravated battery and official misconduct.

The office said that Roman appeared at a bond hearing Thursday, during which the judge set bail at $5,000 and ordered the lieutenant to have no contact with the victim in the case.

The next court date was scheduled for Sept. 16. 

Prosecutors alleged in court documents that on the evening of Feb. 9, 2021, Roman was responding to reports of an alleged carjacking by a 17-year-old.

After the police officer spotted the stolen car, prosecutors said the suspect began to flee on foot, but eventually surrendered to officers after attempting to climb over a fence.

The attorney’s office said that the suspect, referred to in court documents as “Z.K.,” was placed in handcuffs, after which he complained to officers that they were too tight.

As an officer began adjusting the handcuffs, Roman allegedly told the suspect to “shut up,” and eventually “approached Z.K. from behind and shoved his flashlight in between Z.K.’s buttocks,” prompting the suspect to yell out.

Roman, after removing the flashlight, walked away before allegedly turning and yelling, “That’s what you get for carjacking.”

Prosecutors said that the incident was captured on police body cameras.

The police department said Thursday that “upon learning of the incident in July, the department promptly relieved Roman, 44, of police powers,” also noting that he “could face additional disciplinary actions pending the outcomes of the criminal and administrative investigations.”

“Upon learning of the incident in July, the department promptly relieved Roman, 44, of police powers,” the department added, also noting that he “could face additional disciplinary actions pending the outcomes of the criminal and administrative investigations.”

According to records cited by the Chicago Tribune, Roman has been sued for allegations of misconduct at least three times over the past decade, including by a man who was shot and seriously wounded during a foot chase in August 2011.

The charges come a day after the attorney’s office charged Chicago police officers Jeffery Shafer and Victor Guebara with aggravated battery and official misconduct for allegedly beating a teen in January. 

Civilian Office of Police Accountability records obtained by the Tribune alleged that one of the officers struck the teen in the head or face, and subsequently pushed his head into a nearby metal fence and sidewalk.

In early August, Chicago police officer Melvina Bogard was charged with aggravated battery and official misconduct over the shooting of Ariel Roman in February 2020. 

According to The Associated Press, Bogard allegedly shot the unarmed individual as he tried to escape by running up a subway station escalator. 

Bogard’s attorney has argued that the 32-year-old officer was acting in self-defense.

Updated: 4:15 p.m.