Police Officer Arrested for Alleged Attack on Teen

May 27, 08:30 PM

Current Headlines: CHICAGO _ A Chicago police officer has been charged with aggravated battery after breaking the jaw of a 15-year-old boy who had quarreled with his son, law-enforcement officials said Sunday.

Robert Gallegos, 41, showed little reaction Sunday afternoon as Cook County Judge Israel Desierto ordered him held in lieu of $100,000 bail. Gallegos' teenage son was involved in a quarrel Wednesday with a fellow student at Juarez High School, and the officer, who was off duty, attacked him in an alley later the same day, according to a statement from Chicago police's Office of Professional Standards.

The incident was reported to police Thursday, and an OPS investigation was begun, according to the statement. Gallegos was arrested Saturday evening at his home, according to court records.

In addition to the broken jaw, the teen also sustained bruises, according to officials.

Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said that though Gallegos, a 10-year veteran of the mass transit unit, has been relieved of police powers, he continues to be paid by the department. She said OPS is still investigating.

"Disciplinary action will be taken pending the judicial outcome of this case," she said.

OPS has come under heavy scrutiny recently because of its handling of two alleged police beatings caught on videotape. Mayor Richard Daley has said that he will separate the office from the Police Department because of criticism that the agency was protecting officers instead of aggressively investigating brutality allegations against them.

In this case, court records stated that the Juarez student was walking with two other teens in an alley between 2 and 2:30 p.m. CDT Wednesday when he was approached by Gallegos and another man. Prosecutors said Gallegos accused the teen of getting his son in trouble at school.

"He said his son had never been in trouble before," said Assistant State's Attorney Mary Pat Devereux. "He grabbed (the teen) about the body and shoved him up on a garage door and punched him about the face."

After the teen fell to the ground, Gallegos and the other man kicked various areas of his body, Devereux said.

On Thursday, the teen was taken to Rush University Medical Center, where he was found to have a broken jaw. The teen's family reported the incident to police the same day.

The teen's jaw will be wired shut for at least three weeks, Devereux said.

Gallegos' attorney, Jim Thompson, said his client has no criminal history, and "as a police officer is a guardian of the community."

Thompson also said the teen was a gang member who "had made threats against Mr. Gallegos and his family in the past."

Reached Sunday afternoon, a spokesman for the teen's family denied he was a gang member and said he had never gotten in trouble with the law.

Alvaro Obregon said Gallegos' son and the teen had a verbal confrontation at school earlier Wednesday that was quelled by staff.

"There was an exchange of words at school _ no one touched anyone," Obregon said. "It was just kids being kids, talking smack to each other."

After the alleged attack, the teen didn't tell anyone about it because he was afraid he would get in trouble, Obregon said. It was only when school officials noticed something wasn't right with the teen and called his mother that his injury came to light. A day later, surgery was done on the left side of the teen's jaw, Obregon said.

He said the family was still stunned over what happened to the teen, particularly because it allegedly was at the hands of a police officer.

"The fact remains that this is an adult and he is ... a Chicago police officer who should know better how to handle this situation," Obregon said. "The young man was just walking when he was (attacked). He did not provoke it. He did not ask for it."

Obregon said the family has retained a private attorney and is evaluating its legal options.

A person who answered the phone at Gallegos' residence hung up on a reporter seeking comment on the case. Gallegos is next due in court Friday.

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