The now-retired Chicago police officer charged in a North Avenue Beach encounter that went viral last year made his first court appearance in the case Thursday, when he pleaded not guilty to felony charges and was released on his own recognizance.
At a hearing before Cook County Judge William Gamboney, First Assistant State’s Attorney Risa Lanier recounted the now-familiar allegations: After midnight on Aug. 28, Bruce Dyker was on duty at the beach and approached Nikkita Brown, telling her the beach was closed and she would have to leave.
Advertisement
As she told him to back away, he came closer and yelled at her, then grabbed her arm and told her she was under arrest as she said she was trying to leave, Lanier said. The two had a physical struggle, and Dyker eventually went back to his vehicle and Brown left the area.
Videos of the encounter between Dyker, who is white, and Brown, who is Black, went viral last year.
Advertisement
Tim Grace, Dyker’s attorney, noted that Dyker was on-duty and giving a lawful order. Under police guidelines, he said, Dyker would have been justified in doing much more to carry out an arrest — including an “emergency takedown” or a leg sweep — but chose not to, since he did not want to risk injuring Brown. In addition, Grace said, there were multiple people on the beach that night, including a Black couple, who left the area without incident after Dyker told them the beach was closed.
“(Brown) kind of has this approach that the rules did not apply to her,” Grace said.
Lanier said prosecutors would not object to releasing Dyker on his own recognizance and allowing him to travel to his new home in Texas as he awaits trial.
However, Lanier did ask Gamboney to prohibit Dyker from carrying a firearm while his case is pending, a common condition of bond. Grace objected, saying Dyker only owns one gun, and the restriction was not necessary.
Ultimately, Gamboney said Dyker could carry a firearm, but not while he is in the state of Illinois.
Dyker was indicted earlier this month on felony charges of aggravated battery and official misconduct, court records show.
Dyker left the force last month before the department had announced any formal disciplinary action taken against him.
The incident was captured in several videos that went viral last year, sparking a Civilian Office of Police Accountability investigation and a response from Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who said she was “quite disturbed” by videos of the incident.
Advertisement
COPA concluded its investigation into Dyker’s conduct at the end of October. The results of that investigation were not immediately made public.
mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com
