Police officer held in shooting spree is released - McClatchy Network - Kentucky.com

Lynwood Police Chief Russell Pearson accused prosecutors of damaging Dorian's reputation and dragging his fellow officers "through the mud."

"The Will County state's attorney owes the victims of the attacks, their families, Brian Dorian, the officers of the Lynwood Police Department and the residents of the village of Lynwood an apology for rushing to judgment, thereby causing a great deal of pain and suffering for everyone involved," Pearson said in a statement.

Dorian had been charged with only one of the shootings - the fatal attack on Rolando Alonso, a 45-year-old construction worker who police alleged was randomly gunned down on Oct. 5 while rehabbing a home near Beecher, Ill. Co-worker Josh Garza, 19, was shot above his right eye and survived, but the bullet remains lodged in the back of his brain, relatives say. He is unable to communicate except with hand gestures.

A third construction worker, who is 19, escaped unharmed and identified Dorian after being shown an 8-year-old driver's license photograph of the officer, sources said.

But Keith Dahl, a 64-year-old Indiana farmer who was shot and robbed of $60 about 40 minutes later by a man who asked about honeybees, was unable to identify Dorian when he was shown a photo array in the hospital, police said.

Police looking for a truck that matched witness descriptions stopped Dorian in Schererville, Ind., shortly after Dahl was shot. After flashing his badge, he was released without his truck being searched. But police noted he was carrying his Glock service weapon, and sources said the traffic stop ended up being a crucial clue for prosecutors when they decided to charge Dorian.

Police have been unable to find the Colt revolver thought to have been used in the shootings.

The case against Dorian began to unravel Tuesday afternoon when his lawyers presented prosecutors with evidence that the officer had been on his home computer the morning of the shootings, defense attorney Dave Carlson said. Dorian had previously told police that he had checked his e-mail then watched ESPN and a local newscast when the crimes took place.

Will County Sheriff Paul Kaupas acknowledged that he had doubts about Dorian's involvement and continued to investigate the shootings even after the officer's arrest.

"We were on the fence on this case," Kaupas said. "We had questions in our minds."

Lake County, Ind., authorities also had misgivings about Dorian's connection and never charged him with the shooting in their jurisdiction. Sheriff Roy Dominguez said Tuesday his department continues to seek information on a suspect.

"Our case remains open and we will continue to look for more information in a very deliberate and methodical manner," Dominguez said.

Glasgow contends he made the correct decision when he approved charges against Dorian last week. Calling it "uncanny circumstantial evidence," Glasgow said the arrest made sense given the eyewitness' description of the shooter and his truck.

The state's attorney credited his office for ferreting out the computer evidence that cleared Dorian.

"In this particular case, I guess Brian Dorian can thank God for computer technology," Glasgow said.

Dorian's attorney said his client was "relieved" to be released but is concerned about the shooter's whereabouts.

"He's a police officer and he's worried that there's a murderer still on the loose," attorney Bob Odekirk said. "He expressed that to us all along."

Dorian is expected back in court Wednesday morning, when prosecutors will formally drop the charges.

His release was met with jubilation by his friends and family, many of whom wore "Free Brian" T-shirts and packed a Will County courtroom as his attorney entered a not guilty plea. Some wept openly at the hearing, but Dorian, who appeared via a video feed, did not show any reaction during the short proceeding.

"There are some things you are just certain about," longtime friend Jennifer Jakubielski said. "I knew Brian wasn't the kind of person to do something like this. When you're certain about something and somebody, it's like it's in your blood and in your soul."

From the start, Dorian's supporters, including a number of fellow Lynwood police officers, had questioned whether authorities charged the right man. Some wondered if the arrest was made for political reasons. Will County's Sheriff Kaupas is up for re-election Nov. 2. A spokesman denied politics were involved.

Dorian joined the Lynwood Police Department in 2003. He has been on leave since October 2009 after sustaining a shoulder injury while on duty.

(Tribune reporters Joel Hood, Stacy St. Clair, Liam Ford and Andy Grimm contributed to this report, with freelance reporters Dennis Sullivan and Alice Fabbre.)