(WTTW News)
A Chicago police officer is facing felony charges after he allegedly punched a handcuffed man multiple times in the groin after that man was arrested following a shootout with other officers.
Christopher Hillas, 43, was charged with aggravated battery and official misconduct following an incident in which he was allegedly captured on body camera video punching a man multiple times during a pat down on Christmas Eve.
He was placed on a $10,000 bond during a hearing Thursday, meaning he must pay $1,000 to be released from jail.
According to Chicago police, tactical officers were on patrol around 10:45 p.m. that night in the 1300 block of West Hastings Street when they observed two men brandishing handguns. As the officers approached the men, one allegedly fired at the officers, who returned fire and twice struck the man.
That man, who police identified as 30-year-old Nokomis Jefferson, attempted to flee, but surrendered after a short pursuit. He was then handcuffed and led to a CPD squad car, according to Assistant State’s Attorney Lynn McCarthy.
When Jefferson got to the car, Hillas — who was dressed in plain clothes and was not involved in the shootout — began a pat down from Jefferson’s waist down to his feet to search for any additional firearms.
When this was completed, Hillas allegedly stood up slightly and punched Jefferson with a closed fist four times in the groin area before another officer pulled him away. According to McCarthy, Jefferson remained handcuffed and made no verbal or physical threats to Hillas before he was hit.
Hillas then allegedly turned back toward Jefferson, but was again stopped by other officers. The entire incident was captured on the body-worn cameras of several officers, according to McCarthy.
Jefferson survived his gunshot wounds and has since been charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder stemming from the shooting.
Hillas joined the CPD in 2016 and has worked as a patrol officer in the 12th District, according to his defense attorney Tim Grace, but he has been stripped of his police powers following this incident.
According to Grace, Hillas was sitting in his own car outside the 12th District station before his Dec. 24 shift when he heard the shots fired and drove to the scene.
Hillas offered to pat down Jefferson after the gun he allegedly used in the shootout was not immediately recovered, according to Grace. During the pat down, Hillas accidentally butted heads with another officer, but believed he’d been struck by Jefferson, Grace said, as he attempted to remove a “bulge” found in Jefferson’s pocket.
“This was a Chicago police officer acting as a Chicago police officer attempting to do a search of an individual who had just attempted to murder two Chicago police officers,” Grace said.
That “bulge” turned out to be Jefferson’s phone and wallet.
As part of his bond, Hillas will not be allowed to possess any firearms. He is due back in court on March 10.
Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431
