By Stefano Esposito
Chicago Sun-Times
CHICAGO — Cook County prosecutors Tuesday dropped charges against a parolee accused of trying to kill two Chicago police officers on the West Side last month.
Physical evidence from the crime - as well as a new witness - excluded Daniel Jones, 27, as the gunman in the July 18 incident in which two plainclothes officers were shot in the head, a source said. They were treated at a hospital and released.
At the time of the charges, prosecutors said Jones was struggling with one of the officers before they were shot. A gun was recovered away from the scene after the shooter fled. The gun was submitted to the Illinois State Police crime lab for testing.
“While the charges against Jones were brought in good faith based on witness accounts and identifications, additional information has developed during the ongoing investigation that warranted the dismissal of the charges,” according to a statement Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez’ office released Tuesday.
Jones, of the 600 block of North Ridgeway, had been charged with two counts of attempted murder.
During Jones’ bond hearing last month, prosecutors said officers Ruben DelValle and Jeffrey Friedlieb were shot while attempting to question Jones after they observed him and another individual engaged in a possible narcotics transaction in an alley in the 4000 block of West Wilcox. When police went into the alley, Jones allegedly pulled a revolver out of his waistband and began firing, prosecutors said during the bond hearing.
Friedlieb, who struggled with the shooter after he refused to place his hands on the police vehicle, suffered a gunshot wound to the back of his head, prosecutors said during the bond hearing.
DelValle was getting out of the car when he was shot in his left bicep and suffered a deep graze wound to the left side of his head.
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