Opening statements expected Tuesday in civil trial on 2020 downtown Chicago police shooting at Grand CTA Red Line station
Opening statements are expected Tuesday in a civil trial regarding a downtown Chicago police shooting several years ago.
Officers shot Ariel Roman, who was unarmed, during a struggle at the Grand CTA Red Line station in 2020.
Roman claims his civil rights were violated, and that police did not need to shoot him.
A jury was selected Monday.
The officer who shot Roman was found not guilty of battery and misconduct in a 2022 trial.
The officer's attorneys argued she fired in self-defense.
She has since resigned from the department.
The judge said Roman ignored officers' commands, and was carrying a large amount of drugs.
RELATED: Videos of police shooting at CTA Red Line station released by COPA
Roman did face charges, including resisting arrest, but they were later dropped.
Officer Melvina Bogard and her former partner, Officer Bernard Butler were involved in the arrest, which was sparked by Roman allegedly walking between Red Line train cars.
Butler could be heard shouting "shoot him," at one point in witness video.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability recommended both officers be fired.
RELATED: Man shot by Chicago police at CTA Red Line station sues city, officers
Butler was suspended for a year without pay.
The trial is expected to last up to two weeks.
The city of Chicago did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the trial beginning.
This is a developing story; check back with ABC7 Chicago for updates.
