Bail Set For Policeman Who Caused Two Fatalities
Terrell Garret, a North Chicago police officer, was issued $500,000 bail by Judge James Brown. Garrett is charged with two criminal counts of aggravated driving under the influence and two counts of reckless homicide, according to this report from the Chicago Tribune. If Garrett is able to post 10 per cent of the bail, he will be released but will have to wear an electronic monitoring device in order to prevent him from driving during the case.
The 35-year-old officer from Zion, Illinois, was allegedly driving the wrong way on Lake Shore Drive in the early hours of Friday, March 15 when he struck a car containing two men. These two occupants—Fabian Torres, 27, and Joaquin Garcia, 25—were both killed in the accident.
Garrett has been a police officer since 2008, and has been placed on leave since the accident. Garcia was going to graduate from Malcolm X College in May, and Torres was at DePaul University in Chicago.
Families of both victims believe that Garrett is receiving special treatment because he is a police officer. Garrett was not in court when his bail was set, as he is still in the hospital with a fractured left hip. During the proceedings, it was released that his blood alcohol content was 0.184 at the time of the accident.
One other driver was injured in the crash, but was treated at the hospital and released.
Facing a misdemeanor or felony—be it driving under the influence, shoplifting, breaking and entering, or any other criminal charge—is a serious offense that can have a lasting impact on your life. If you’ve been charged with any criminal activity, it is important to speak with a talented Cook County attorney to learn more about your options. Contact our law firm in Arlington Heights, Illinois today to see how we can help you.
Image courtesy freedigitalphotos.net