Malcolm Moffett-Brown, a man who aimed a gun at an on-duty Chicago police officer in April 2023 because he wanted to be involved in a police pursuit, has been sentenced to two years in prison. However, Moffett-Brown will not spend any time in prison as his sentence will be offset by credits earned while on electronic monitoring during the case.
Moffett-Brown, who was on first-time weapon offender probation for a previous gun case in DeKalb County, took the risk of pointing a gun at a CPD officer. The officer, despite being threatened with a firearm, did not draw her own gun from its holster.
The incident occurred when the officer was sitting alone in her patrol car, working on paperwork from a recent traffic stop on East 75th Street. Moffett-Brown drove past her in his Mercedes and then pulled up next to her patrol car, asking why she didn’t pull him over for running a red light. He expressed his desire to be chased by the police.
As Moffett-Brown became more aggressive, he pulled out a black handgun and pointed it at the officer. The officer activated a panic button to notify dispatchers of the situation. Moffett-Brown continued to wave the gun and point it at the officer before speeding away.
Two months later, Moffett-Brown was apprehended for allegedly threatening people with a firearm inside a nightclub. He was found with a loaded handgun and extended magazine in his waistband.
Moffett-Brown pleaded guilty to aggravated assault of a peace officer and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. He was sentenced to two years on each count, to be served concurrently. A more serious charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm was dropped.
Despite being taken to Stateville Correctional Center for processing, Moffett-Brown went home the same day and will be on parole until May 19.
The Chicago Police Department has strict guidelines for vehicle pursuits, prohibiting officers from pursuing vehicles for minor traffic offenses. The department has paid out millions of dollars for pursuits that ended in crashes, leading to a cautious approach to pursuits.
In light of this policy, an attorney investigating a robbery linked to a crew that nearly killed a victim found social media posts showing groups speeding away from police. Some individuals have even tried to lure police into pursuits by committing violations in front of them.
Overall, Moffett-Brown’s case highlights the dangers and complexities of police pursuits, as well as the consequences for those who engage in such reckless behavior.
