The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office has ruled the death of Gregory Riley, the 31-year-old man who died Monday night after a struggle with Chicago police, a homicide.
Riley, 31, died of “asphyxia due to compression of the neck and chest,” according to a statement released this afternoon. Riley also suffered “extensive bleeding or hemorrhage” in the muscles of his neck. Witnesses have told the Tribune that police beat Riley in the West Side incident when he was being arrested for allegedly selling drugs; police have denied that Riley was beaten, and department spokesman Pat Camden reminded reporters today that a homicide ruling by the medical examiner does not constitute a criminal murder.
Police Supt. Terry Hillard said Thursday night that the department’s Office of Professional Standards would investigate Riley’s death, and that the officers involved would be placed on administrative duties.
SOX FALL TO O’S
Despite a Magglio Ordonez homer and a Frank Thomas run, the White Sox lost to the Orioles, 3-2, today at Comiskey Park. Thursday night, the Sox drubbed Baltimore 9-3.
In a game that wrapped up too late for many home-delivered newspapers this morning, the Cubs lost to San Francisco 3-2. The Cubs continue their stand in San Francisco, 9:35 p.m.
MEMBERS OF CONSTRUCTION FAMILY SENTENCED IN FRAUD CASE
Three members of the Palumbo construction family received the maximum sentences possible today for defrauding the state and federal governments out of millions of dollars related to their public road-building projects.
Sebastian and Joseph Palumbo each were sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and each ordered to pay a $250,000 fine; their father, Peter, was sentenced to a year in prison and three months’ home confinement for fraud. In January, they pleaded guilty to falsifying billing records and denying employees $3.3 million in overtime payments through their two companies, Palumbo Brothers Inc. and Monarch Asphalt Co.
JUDGE GRANTS MORE TIME FOR LEMAK TESTING
Marilyn Lemak, the Naperville mother accused of drugging and smothering her three children in March, was back in court today. DuPage County Circuit Court Judge George Bakalis granted a request by doctors for the prosecution to take more time conducting psychological tests of Lemak, 41, who is being kept under a 24-hour suicide watch at the county jail. The tests are part of a process to determine whether Lemak is fit to stand trial in the slayings of the children.
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INTENSIVE COW UNIT
The postage-stamp-adorned cow de-horned by vandals Thursday near Chicago’s Water Tower on North Michigan Avenue was being restored this morning in the city’s workshop at State and Lake Streets. The city’s Cultural Affairs Department has established a “cow care and repair team” to address just such incidents for the duration of its “Cows on Parade” exhibition through Oct. 31. And if the first week of the show is any indication, they’ll have their hands full. Among several other incidents of damage to cows, the horn-rimmed glasses of the Harry Caray tribute “hole-y cow” in front of Tribune Tower on the 400 block of North Michigan had been broken.
DOC ACCUSED OF ENTICEMENT OF UNDERAGE GIRL ON THE NET
A man identified by authorities as an Oak Park gynecologist spent the night at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, awaiting a detention hearing this afternoon in federal court on charges of using the Internet to “knowingly persuade, induce, entice and coerce” an underage girl to engage in sexual activity.
A criminal complaint contends that, using the screen name of “Devlshdoc,” Mark Levine struck up a 2 1/2-month online friendship and arranged for a sexual encounter with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl — but who turned out to be an undercover Cook County sheriff’s officer when they met at a South Loop apartment complex Thursday morning.
PALOS HEIGHTS MAYOR: NO TO GAMBLING MONEY
The mayor of the southwest suburb of Palos Heights, Dean Koldenhoven, says he doesn’t want any money from the future Rosemont gambling casino, and he’s proposing the City Council pass a resolution next month refusing such money on principal — even though Palos Heights is already absent from a list of 71 Cook County municipalities to which Rosemont has offered a cut of the take.
At least one Palos Heights alderman, Art Phillips, denounces as “ludicrous” what he calls a “holier than thou” attitude: “We take money from drug-asset forfeiture. … We probably also receive funds from the state lottery.”
The question may be moot. Rosemont Mayor Donald Stephens two weeks ago ridiculed the suggestion of sharing casino revenue with towns that failed to support the plan in the first place.
THE ROAD TO INDIGESTION
In anticipation of the opening of “Taste of Chicago” downtown a week from today, the city on Sunday will close several Grant Park routes through the end of “Taste,” July 5 — including Jackson Boulevard from Lake Shore Drive to Michigan Avenue, Congress Parkway from Michigan to Columbus Drive, and Columbus from Monroe Street to Roosevelt Road.
With Michigan Avenue already reduced by construction work to two lanes between Randolph Street and Monroe, remaining routes near Grant Park will be thoroughly congested.
COMING UP TODAY…
Celebrate the summer solstice with a 24-hour marathon of art, music and performance, beginning at 5 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art. … The Goodman Theatre opens “Jitney,” August Wilson’s story about the twists and turns in the life of an African-American guy who runs an unlicensed cab service, 8 p.m. … The Allman Brothers Band plays the New World Music Theatre, 7 p.m. … UB40 brings its reggae presentation of pop classics to House of Blues, 9 p.m. … The Ben Folds Five play the Riviera Theatre, 7:30 p.m. … Opening at the Ivanhoe Theater: a revival of “Laura,” the tale of a detective who falls in love with the memory of a murder victim, 7:45 p.m. … Shelter Fest, a benefit for the Lakeview Shelter for the homeless, features food, entertainment, arts and crafts and kids’ activities; through Sunday. … Taste of the Heart of Italy celebrates Italian culture with food, entertainment and souvenirs, noon-10 p.m. … Military historian John Keegan (“The First World War”) visits Barbara’s Bookstore in Oak Park, 7 p.m. … Happy birthday, Roger Ebert.
… SATURDAY
The Puerto Rican Day Parade steps off at noon along Dearborn Street from Wacker Drive to Van Buren Street. … Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Lincoln Avenue Music Festival opens on the North Side. … The Chicago Cultural Center hosts “Words of Wonder: a Black Storytelling Festival,” 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. … The 14th annual Hunger Walk along Chicago’s lakefront will benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository. … The Chinatown Dragon Festival runs from 1 to 6 p.m. … Route 66 Raceway in Joliet hosts WBBM-FM 96.3’s “B-Bash,” with ‘N Sync, Britney Spears, Rickey Martin, Busta Rhymes and others; 4 p.m. … Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge hosts a free Laurel and Hardy Film Festival, 7 p.m. … Tenor saxman Fred Anderson and percussionist Hamid Drake play Frank Lloyd Wright’s landmark Unity Temple in Oak Park; 8 p.m. … Ministry pumps out punk in a sold-out show at the Vic, 8 p.m. … Santana plays the New World, 7 p.m. … One of the first wave of rock ‘n’ rollers, Wanda Jackson, visits FitzGerald’s, 10 p.m. … Navy Pier delivers fireworks at 10:15 p.m.
… AND SUNDAY
It’s Father’s Day. If you’re lucky enough to have one around, be nice to him. … See Chicago’s historic boulevards and lakefront neighborhoods in the Boulevard Lakefront Bicycle Tour, 7 a.m.-3 p.. … Evanston hosts its annual “Custer’s Last Stand” festival, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. … The Chicago Botanic Garden presents 13 larger-than-life animal-shaped topiaries, “Plants as Animals.” … Happy birthday to Oak Parker and Steppenwolf Theatre veteran John Mahoney (“Frasier”).
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