Mark Rivera ABC7

Attorneys for Chicago drivers tell the I-Team what happened on Friday was an unprecedented and unusual development.
For more than a year, the I-Team has been investigating a Chicago police team accused of unlawfully searching drivers, some have taken the city to court.
And in a deposition for one of those cases last week, an officer was abruptly removed and escorted to police headquarters, where supervisors took his service weapon and badge.
Chicago police have confirmed Rodriquez was stripped of his police powers pending an internal investigation but would not comment further due to pending litigation.
A federal judge has ordered the city to respond to Marsh’s accusations of “lawless interference” and explain why Rodriguez was stripped of police powers by this Friday.
The I-Team just learning another 1863 CPD officer has submitted his paperwork to resign.

When a woman was set on fire on a CTA Blue line train in November, the Federal Transit Administration demanded a new safety plan for the Chicago transit system. The feds threatening to withhold millions if more aggressive actions are not taken to improve safety.
Tonight the I-Team is getting answers from one of the teams tasked with keeping CTA riders safe and is showing you what we’ve uncovered about the new CTA safety plan after a decades-long history of issues.
The CTA told the I-Team it would share the new safety plan being drafted when it is submitted to the FTA. After its two fiery letters, the FTA declined to comment for this story. The deadline to present an improved safety plan or face federal funding cuts is March 19th.

The I-Team tonight taking an in-depth look at the new security plan submitted by the CTA after a woman was set on fire on the blue line in November.
Investigative reporter Mark Rivera uncovering more about how improvements are being implemented and whether they’re enough.
Fifty million dollars in federal funding for the Chicago Transit Authority is on the line with the CTA under fire from the Federal Transit Administration. The safety plan submitted was deemed “materially deficient” by the FTA. Now the I-Team is learning more about safety changes already underway.
UIC Urban Transportation Center is in talks with the CTA to partner with them on potential future safety research. We’re taking a comprehensive look at CTA Safety and the ongoing threats to withhold funding coming up in an I-Team report tonight at 10pm.

The ABC 7 I-Team tonight with new information about an online group that targets and exploits children, with new calls from Congress to investigate and apprehend members.
The I-Team has been shining a light on a vicious network of abusers called 764 since last spring.
They target vulnerable children online, extracting intimate photos they then use to blackmail them to self harm or even lead them to su***de.
Now a congressional committee has asked the FBI to reveal what it’s doing to catch those criminals preying on kids.
At least 28 people have been charged by the Justice Department in recent years with suspected ties to 764 or affiliated networks. Many have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.

The I-Team tonight with new developments in the case of a Chicago tax attorney accused of murdering his wife in their high-rise condo building. Investigative reporter Mark Rivera was in court today and joins us now with more on a new plea and critical details the prosecution is seeking for their case.
Adam Beckerink officially arraigned, pleading not guilty today to murdering his wife Caitlin Tracey. There were contentious moments in the courtroom when the prosecution requested records to learn more about what Beckerink may have told medical staff when he was processed at the Cook County Jail.
The judge reserving her decision on whether the state will have access to Adam Beckerink’s medical records until the next hearing in March.

The ABC 7 I-Team tonight continuing its year-long investigation into a Chicago police tactical unit accused of unlawfully searching drivers on the near north side of the city.
Some Chicago drivers have been seeking accountability for a decade.
Drivers of color have now filed lawsuits and allege they were subjected to pretextual traffic stops— or stops turned searches — to investigate a crime that has nothing to do with the traffic violation they were pulled over for.
And tonight, members of the most complained about controversial tactical team accused of these searches have been stripped of their badge and the I-Team has learned some have been reassigned to different parts of the department while internal investigations are underway.
For the past year, Superintendent Snelling and city leaders have been collaborating on a new traffic stops policy that could include new restrictions on when officers can search vehicles.�The department says it’s continuing to work with city leaders, and the state Attorney General’s office on this policy, but there’s no timeline for when it could go into effect.

The ABC 7 I-Team tonight taking an in-depth look at new efforts from city officials to identify Chicago Police misconduct.
The I-Team reached out to the Chicago police union which does not embrace this tool.
The Chicago Inspector General just released a new tool for city leaders and the public to catch police misconduct clusters before they snowball.
The I-Team sitting down with Deborah Witzburg as we learn more about officers detailed to a northside tactical team accused of serious misconduct.
Tonight we’ll examine what’s happened to a specific group of officers co-accused in nearly two dozen civil rights lawsuits on the magnificent mile. That’s coming up tonight at 10.

The I-Team getting a first look at telling new charges leveled by the state against a Chicago tax attorney accused of murdering his wife in October of 2024.
Adam Beckerink could enter a plea as soon as next week in the murder case against him. But new court filings show a clearer picture of where the prosecution may be heading as they add multiple new charges against him. The state officially seeking a natural life sentence.
According to these filings Beckerink’s DNA, not Tracey’s, was found on the stairwell door outside of their condo. She was found dead days later at the bottom of that very stairwell.

She was surveilled before she was shot.
The I-Team tonight diving deeper into the methods, immigration authorities use to surveil American citizens, they deem to be threats.
But those people may be exercising their protected first amendment rights.
The I-Team learning tonight the Chicago woman shot by federal agents last fall was already on the government’s radar. Before an agent opened fire, Marimar Martinez was identified as a threat after a social media post.
It’s unknown whether agent Charles Exum knew of this threat report before he shot Marimar Martinez according to her attorney. The department of homeland security told the I-Team ICE tracking apps put the lives of the men and women of law enforcement in danger. Apple, Facebook and the Department of Justice did not respond to our request for comment.

Marimar Martinez was labeled a domestic terrorist by the Trump administration. But the evidence and images like these released within the last 24 hours paints a different picture of what actually happened when she was accused of ramming agents before one of them shot her five times. The I-Team now learning more about an ongoing criminal investigation related to the incident as Martinez plans to sue the Department of Homeland Security.
The US Attorney’s office in Indiana declined to comment citing a pending investigation.
A Border Patrol Spokesperson today telling the I-Team it is quote “committed to the highest standards of conduct, transparency and accountability.”
And that “Consistent with policy, Agent Exum was placed on administrative leave.”
But the department did not answer questions about when that leave began and if it continues to this day.

The ABC7 I-Team tonight with new testimony from high ranking Department of Homeland Security officials, about immigration enforcement activity throughout the country.
For the first time since Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed by federal agents the heads of Customs and Border Protection and ICE testified in Congress. Much of their testimony centering around the safety of federal agents as many democrats called for greater accountability and transparency.
Sanctuary cities and states were a major touch point throughout the hearing as well with the heads of ICE and CBP both saying they make the job of immigration enforcers harder and put the safety of Americans at risk.
They both refused to refute the administration’s stance that Renee Good and Alex Pretti were domestic terrorists.

The ABC 7 I-Team tonight with new reporting on the health of the U-S Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Illinois, after an unprecedented leadership exodus. It’s a story investigative reporter Mark Rivera has been following since new U-S Attorney Andrew Boutros took over in April of last year.
The I-Team learning after at least eight top prosecutors left their positions in the Northern District, at least two more are leaving. One former AUSA telling the I-Team every chief position has turned over in the Chicago office within less than a year raising questions over the stability of a pillar of the justice system.
Just before this story aired the US Attorney’s Office reached out to say since Friday they have a new total of 125 prosecutors.
Since being named the US Attorney for the Northern District in April of last year, the I-Team has repeatedly asked to sit down with Andrew Boutros, but he has declined.
He told us in a statement today the office is fortunate to have experienced prosecutors step into section chief roles and that he is hiring dozens of new AUSAs.