CHICAGO -- An Englewood teen who allegedly tried to shoot a police officer after fleeing a traffic stop late Saturday was held on $375,000 bail Sunday.
Harold Butler, 18, of the 6500 block of South Peoria Street appeared before Cook County Circuit Judge Maura Slattery Boyle on Sunday afternoon, charged with one count each of attempted first-degree murder of a police officer and unlawful use of a weapon.
Police stopped a car around 11 p.m. Saturday in the 5200 block of West Ohio Street after observing the vehicle had a burned-out headlight, said Assistant State's Atty. Suzi Collins.
When police pulled up behind the car, Butler fled, ignoring the officers' orders to stop, Collins said. While an officer was in pursuit, she said, Butler pulled out a handgun and attempted to fire the weapon at him, but it misfired.
Butler allegedly attempted to fix the gun and fire again at the officer but was apprehended first. The officer stated that he never drew his weapon, Collins said.
The teen later gave a handwritten statement to police saying he fled because he had been "dirty," Collins said, meaning he was in possession of an illegal firearm. Butler also told police in the statement that he knew he was firing at a police officer and that the gun had never jammed before.
"He believed when he pulled the trigger that the gun would discharge," Collins said. "He attempted to shoot an unarmed person that he knew to be a police officer."
Butler has no adult felony convictions, Collins said, but was convicted three times as a juvenile for possession of a controlled substance. Court records show that Butler was acquitted on adult felony charges of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm in April.
Butler is employed as a luggage handler at Midway Airport and takes courses at Jobs for Youth, a Chicago career development program, his public defender said.
Robert Mitchum can be reached at rmitchum@tribune.com.