May 12--A Chicago man was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison for shooting Chicago police Officer Del Pearson, who was severely injured when he was struck by a bullet that pierced his main artery and lodged in his neck.
Paris Sadler, 24, had pleaded guilty to attempted murder of a police officer Wednesday shortly before his trial was scheduled to begin in Cook County Judge Thaddeus Wilson's courtroom.
"It is by the grace of God, and with the strong courage and support of his fellow officers, that Officer Pearson was spared his life in yet another senseless shooting on the streets of Chicago," State's Attorney Anita Alvarez said in a statement. "It has been an extremely long journey for Officer Pearson and his family, and we thank them for their patience and perseverance as this case has moved toward justice."
Prosecutors have said that Pearson was responding to a call of a "juvenile disturbance" in the 8400 block of South Kingston Avenue when he saw Sadler clutch his waistband -- a possible sign he was carrying a gun. When Sadler took off running, Pearson gave chase. Pearson was shot twice -- one bullet tore through an artery in his upper shoulder and the second lodged in his bulletproof vest.
In a front-page article, the Tribune recounted Pearson's close call. The veteran South Chicago District tactical officer lost a massive amount of blood but survived thanks to fast work by first responders, the skill of trauma surgeons and luck.
The prosecution had appeared in trouble after Sadler's attorneys challenged the legality of the search of his mother's home, arguing that officers, upset over a colleague's shooting, entered the house and conducted the search without a warrant. Police found Sadler in the basement and recovered a .38-caliber blue-steel revolver that was later linked to the shooting by ballistics.
Wilson held a series of hearings after Sadler's lawyers tried to quash the arrest and throw out the weapon as evidence. One bombshell after another resulted -- first that the suspect's mother had secretly recorded her interview by the prosecutor, then that the prosecutor had been fired after the recordings showed his earlier testimony about the interview was inaccurate.
Despite the controversy, Wilson ended up siding with police in December.
sschmadeke@tribpub.com
