Chicago Policeman Charged With DUI In Hit-And-Run Accident

Our Chicago DUI Lawyers have learned that a for the second time in little over a month a Chicago Police Officer has been charged with DUI involving a hit-and-run accident. Richard Bolling, 39, of the 8600 block of South Wolcott Avenue was charged Saturday with aggravated DUI, leaving the scene of a wreck where a death or injury occurred, and reckless homicide.

Full story follows below:

Chicago cop is charged in hit-run death of 13-year-old riding a bike

17-year veteran is charged with DUI, reckless homicide, leaving the scene

By Carlos Sadovi and Steve Schmadeke | Chicago Tribune reporters

A veteran Chicago police officer was charged Saturday in the fatal hit-and-run that killed a 13-year-old boy who had sneaked outside to ride his bike with friends on the South Side Friday.

Richard Bolling, 39, of the 8600 block of South Wolcott Avenue was charged Saturday with aggravated DUI, leaving the scene of a wreck where a death or injury occurred, and reckless homicide in the death of Trenton Booker, said Sally Daly, spokeswoman for the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.

Bolling, a 17-year veteran assigned to the department’s narcotics and gang investigation section, allegedly had been at a bar earlier in the evening, Daly said. Arresting officers saw an open bottle of beer in Bolling’s Dodge Charger and conducted a field sobriety test, said Daly, who did not have the test results.

The boy’s father, Terrence Booker, said Saturday police told the family that Bolling failed a Breathalyzer test. Booker, 40, said he welcomed the charges.

“If he hadn’t killed my son, he would’ve killed somebody else,” he said. “They told us he was going 80 m.p.h. I’m just too upset myself to talk.”

Trenton, who family said sneaked out of his home, was riding with a friend on Ashland Avenue north in a southbound lane near 81st Street at about 1:30 a.m. Bolling was driving his car in a southbound lane, and according to witness accounts went through the intersection at a high rate of speed and hit Trenton, who ended up sprawled on the street, Daly said.

Bolling allegedly continued without stopping.

He was arrested minutes later after two Chicago police officers saw the car about five blocks away going the wrong way down a one-way street.

They also noticed that the car had damage to the bumper and windshield, Daly said.

Officials said Bolling, who is due in Bond Court on Sunday, has been stripped of his police powers. No one answered the door at his home Saturday.

Police refused to confirm the officer’s name or duties, alleging that the police union contract prohibits them.

The family has not made funeral arrangements.

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