Nov. 05--A driver charged with reckless homicide in an accident that killed an off-duty Chicago police officer was ordered released on electronic monitoring over the objections of prosecutors Wednesday.
In arguing for release, the attorney for Dennis Anderson said his client is married with six kids and works as a supervisor in the custodian and linens department at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. Anderson is also on the local school council at Beasley Elementary School and is a volunteer girls basketball coach, attorney Robert Willis said.
Anderson is accused of striking and killing Tito Rodriguez Jr., 28, as the officer rode his motorcycle on the Dan Ryan Expressway in July.
Anderson was initially issued traffic citations, including improper lane usage and driving without valid insurance, but he was charged Tuesday with reckless homicide, a felony.
Rodriguez Jr. was on his way to work the second shift in the Gresham District around 2:15 p.m. when Anderson made a sudden lane change to avoid missing the 71st Street exit and struck him, according to police and prosecutors.
Witnesses, including two co-workers following Rodriguez on their motorcycles, told police that Anderson suddenly swerved from the far right express lane, crossing a median into the local lanes. Rodriguez tried to brake but struck the back of Anderson's red Pontiac G5, prosecutors said.
Rodriguez was thrown from his bike and hit the pavement, prosecutors said. He later died at St. Bernard Hospital.
Anderson, who was driving with his 13- and 16-year-old sons, declined to submit to blood and urine tests, prosecutors said.
Rodriguez, known as "Mannie" to friends and family, had aspirations to move up in the Chicago Police Department, his family said.
Rodriguez had been a probationary police officer since May 2013. All officers have that designation for the first year and a half of service.
Rodriguez had been a motorcycle rider for more than 10 years, said his father, also named Tito Rodriguez.
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