State police take over probe of Oak Park officer involved shooting

Story updated at 1:37 p.m.

The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force (PITF) is handling the investigation into use of force by an Oak Park police officer early April 8 after a shooting occurred between the driver of a vehicle and the officer.

 “Preliminary reports are that the driver of the stopped vehicle exited and began firing,” said Oak Park spokesman David Powers.

The Oak Park officer returned fire and shot the suspect. The suspect is in stable condition and the officer is in “stable but serious condition,” according to Sergeant Christopher “Joey” Watson of the Illinois State Police.

The shooting occurred while the Oak Park officer was assisting Forest Park police with a traffic stop at 7 a.m. in the 600 block of Harlem Avenue near the interstate 290 expressway. 

Forest Park Deputy Police Chief Ken Gross said the altercation began as a domestic disturbance call on the 900 block of Thomas Avenue in Forest Park. It is believed that the offender took his girlfriend’s car, which was the vehicle he was in when police stopped him.

Both received non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Loyola Medical Center in Maywood for treatment, according to Powers, who could offer no further details at this time.

The ramp from Interstate 290 westbound to Harlem Avenue was closed at approximately 7:20 a.m. for the investigation and was reopened at around 12:30 p.m. 

This is a developing story.