Skip to content

Chicago cop pleads Not Guilty to misconduct and battery in beach encounter

The 52-year-old officer, who had been on desk duty since shortly after the incident last summer, resigned from the Department in May before any formal disciplinary action was announced against him. He had been a Chicago officer since 1998.

Associated Press
Associated Press
| 2 min read
Chicago cop pleads Not Guilty to misconduct and battery in beach encounter
The encounter between former Chicago Police Officer Bruce Dyker and Nikkita Brown who was walking her dog on North Avenue Beach, was captured on video last summer and eventually lead to formal disciplinary charges against Dyker.

CHICAGO (AP) — A white former Chicago police officer captured on video struggling with a black woman who was walking her dog along a Lake Michigan beach pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of official misconduct and aggravated battery.

Bruce Dyker was released on his own recognizance by Cook County Judge William Gamboney.

Dyker, 52, had been on desk duty since shortly after the incident last summer, resigned from the Chicago Police Department in May before any formal disciplinary action was announced against him, a department spokesperson said. He had been a Chicago officer since 1998.

Videos shows Dyker grabbing Nikkita Brown shortly after midnight on August 28, 2021, as she walked her French bulldog at North Avenue Beach. You can view the video, provided to ABC7 below.

Tim Grace, Dyker’s attorney, noted that Dyker was on-duty and giving a lawful order to leave the beach because it was closed at the time. Under police guidelines, Dyker would have been justified in doing much more to carry out an arrest — including an “emergency takedown” or a leg sweep — but chose not to, since he did not want to risk injuring the 33-year-old Brown, Grace said.


Subscribe to the Chicago Journal


The Chicago Journal needs your support.

At just $20/year, your subscription not only helps us grow, it helps maintain our commitment to independent publishing.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE


Subscribe to the Chicago Journal

Chicago NewsNews

Associated Press Twitter

News and content from The Associated Press, which has been covering the world's most important stories since 1846.


Related Posts

Shots fired at police as two overnight investigations interrupted, prompting emergency calls

Officers were doing a routine street stop when suddenly offenders fired shots from a nearby alley and, later, officers were investigating a homicide when a group began throwing objects at them.

Shots fired at police as two overnight investigations interrupted, prompting emergency calls

DNA tests identify man found slain in 1980 as Chicago man

The body was found in a wooden crate that had been nailed shut in the summer of 1980, in the water at the Lockport Locks power plant in Will County.

DNA tests identify man found slain in 1980 as Chicago man

Army Corps further delays decision on Great Lakes oil tunnel

A federal review of plans for a Great Lakes oil pipeline tunnel will take more than a year longer than originally planned, officials said Thursday, likely delaying completion of the project — if approved — until 2030 or later.

Army Corps further delays decision on Great Lakes oil tunnel