Dupage Policy Journal

Lombard Police Chief Roy Newton is speaking out about some components of the criminal justice system he argues simply don’t do the job.

“There’s no secret the Cook County Court System and bail system has been more open to releasing offenders on a lower bond, or no bond,” Newton told the DuPage Policy Journal in the wake of 18-year-old Marion Lewis being charged in connection with the deadly shooting of a 7-year-old Chicago girl at a McDonald’s drive-thru. “That part is frustrating, when a department picks up an offender for a certain crime and they have a monitoring bracelet on their ankle from being released a few days ago. People that are given bonds should have to come up with that amount to be released.”

Lewis now faces at least 19 counts, including murder, three counts of attempted murder and aggravated assault of a police officer. Chicago Police Supt. David Brown says others are being sought in connection to Jaslyn Adams' death. Her father, Jontae Adams, was also seriously wounded in the shooting.

Lewis was taken into custody while trying to steal a family’s car on the Eisenhower Expressway while eluding officers. He suffered several gunshot wounds from the police, but is expected to survive.  

Investigators said they had Lewis under surveillance when they spotted him taking off in a vehicle and driving onto the expressway. After crashing his vehicle, officers said he tried to carjack a family traveling in the same direction before he could be taken into custody.  

“Those offenders go out and continue to commit more crimes, not just in Lombard but all adjacent suburbs to the city.”