Politics

City Poised to Pay Another $2.5M to Families of Chicagoans Killed by Driver Being Chased by Police

Taxpayers should pay $2.5 million to the families of two Chicagoans killed by drivers fleeing police, city lawyers recommended, the latest massive settlements prompted by deadly police pursuits that violated department policy.

The family of Ezell Ricky Island, 54, would get $1.5 million to resolve the wrongful death lawsuit they filed after he was killed on Feb. 5, 2020, according to the proposed settlement.

Island, the father of nine children, was riding in the back seat of a blue 2009 Ford Focus, driven by Mackelin Moore, of Pill Hill, when Moore cut off an unmarked police SUV as he exited the parking lot of a liquor store near Garfield Park, court records show.

The police SUV pursued Moore, and attempted to stop his car to cite him for a traffic infraction, court records show.

Moore refused to stop, reaching speeds of more than 76 mph in a 30-mph zone on Hamlin Avenue, records show. Moore did not stop for a red light on Lake Street and hit a CTA railroad pillar before striking a Dodge Journey, court records show.

A woman riding in the front passenger seat of Moore’s car suffered a broken leg, partially amputated ear and other injuries, authorities said. Moore suffered an injury to his heart valve.

Island, riding in the back seat, suffered a neck injury described as “internal decapitation,” in the police report. The driver of the Journey suffered a dislocated shoulder.

The force of the crash was so powerful it tore the engine from Moore’s car, records show.

Moore was charged with reckless homicide in connection with Island’s death.

Moore, who was wanted on an outstanding warrant for drunken driving at the time of the crash, had prior felony and misdemeanor convictions for fleeing and eluding police, as well as convictions for aggravated battery to a police officer and drug possession.

In the second case, the family of Mignonne Robinson would get $1 million to resolve the wrongful death lawsuit they filed after she was killed after being struck by a car fleeing police on Feb. 8, 2020, just three days after the crash that killed Island.

Robinson, 40, was the owner of a North Lawndale nail salon and the mother of Leah Jones, who was 19 at the time of her mother’s death.

Robinson was driving north on Kedzie Avenue when her black Chevrolet sedan was stuck by a silver Toyota Avalon that refused to stop when a Chicago Police vehicle attempted to stop it on suspicion of committing a traffic violation in the 3200 block of west Jackson Boulevard.

The Avalon also struck a silver Toyota sedan driven by a 25-year-old woman with a 28-year-old man riding in the front passenger seat and a 5-year-old boy in the backseat, police said. All three were injured.

A passenger in Robinson’s car was also injured, records show.

The driver and the passenger of the Avalon were charged with misdemeanors and traffic citations.

The City Council’s Finance Committee is set to consider the proposed settlement on Monday. A final vote of the City Council could come Wednesday.

In all, Chicago taxpayers have spent $101.8 million since 2019 to resolve lawsuits brought by 26 people who were injured or on behalf of those killed during police pursuits, according to an analysis of city data by WTTW News.

In December, a Cook County jury ordered the city of Chicago to pay $79.85 million to the family of a 10-year-old girl who was killed after a 2020 police chase. That verdict is not yet final.

CPD changed its vehicle pursuit policy in 2020 and then again in 2022 to require officers to “consider the need for immediate apprehension of an eluding suspect and the requirement to protect the public from the danger created by eluding offenders.” It also banned supervisors from disciplining officers for terminating a pursuit.

CPD officers are prohibited from initiating a pursuit when the most serious suspected offense is possession of a stolen motor vehicle or the driver is suspected of committing a traffic offense, other than driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Marked police cars, with their lights and sirens activated, must also take the lead in pursuits, after immediately notifying a dispatcher in the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, according to the policy.

That policy has been harshly criticized as too restrictive by conservative members of the City Council who blame it for an increase in robberies and other crimes. Robberies increased citywide 11.8% between 2022 and 2024, but fell 20% between 2023 and 2024, according to CPD data.

Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling have said newly acquired helicopters will make it possible for officers to track and arrest those who flee from officers.

Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | (773) 569-1863 | [email protected]

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