Chicago police officer accused of Laquan McDonald killing released on bond

Police officer Jason Van Dyke appeared in shackles at at hearing on Monday, where Cook County Criminal Court Associate Judge Donald Panarese, set bail at $1.5m, of which 10 per cent had to be posted. His bond was set for $1.5 million earlier Monday, and hours later, he paid the $150,000 needed and was released.

The officer has been in jail since last Tuesday when prosecutors charged him in the shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, the Associated Press reports.

Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, accused of fatally shooting a black teenager, arrives at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015.

The audio-free video shows McDonald walking down the middle of a four-lane street. Van Dyke was charged with first degree murder in the case, the day before the video of the shooting, which officials kept from the public for 400 days, was made public by a court order.

Police have said McDonald was carrying a knife, and an autopsy revealed that he had PCP, a hallucinogenic drug, in his system.

Although authorities said the threat was credible enough to investigate, when he appeared in court, prosecutors said he did not have the resources to carry out the threat and they do not consider him a threat, the Tribune reported.

The renewed protests also came as Van Dyke, 37, attended a bail hearing on Monday afternoon, before posting bond and being released.

The video, which contradicted Tensing’s account of being dragged by DuBose’s vehicle, was released and Tensing was charged with murder and fired from the department in less than two weeks. Last week, a coalition of black city council members announced that they too wanted reforms in the police department as well as the resignations of Alvarez and Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy.

Van Dyke’s attorney, Dan Herbert, maintains that Van Dyke feared for his life, acted lawfully and that the video does not tell the whole story.

A University of IL at Chicago spokeswoman confirmed that Dean is a freshman majoring in electrical engineering.

A number of protesters, including the NAACP President Cornell William Brooks, were arrested as they tried to disrupt traffic in demonstration of the handling of the case. Van Dyke and his partner got out of their marked Chevrolet Tahoe with their guns drawn, and Van Dyke took at least one step toward the teen and opened fire from about 10 feet away, Delaney said.

The Urban League of Chicago joined in the call for a federal investigation, alleging a pattern of “discriminatory harassment” against black people. Prosecutors say 14 to 15 seconds passed between the first shot at the last, and that McDonald was crumpled on the ground for 13 seconds. Many of them said they see this as a defining moment for Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s leadership.