A Black man viciously beaten by a white Chicago cop with a police radio and a long history of abuse allegations is close to receiving a $225,000 settlement.
And the cop, Michael Donnelly, appears to be serving an 89-day unpaid suspension as a result of the incident, although the department has declined to confirm that.
Instead, a police spokesperson told local media that Donnelly, who has faced 19 complaints since joining the force in 2013, is “an inactive member of CPD on a leave of absence.”
The incident took place on July 30, 2024, when police camera operators spotted the handle of a gun protruding from the front waistband of Lorenzo Williams’ pants.
When officers confronted the then-32-year-old Black man, he took off running, prompting a foot pursuit.
“I’ll f–king shoot you!” Donnelly yelled before pointing his gun towards Williams’ head.
“I will f–king smoke you!”
Chicago police officer Joseph Vecchio joined Donnelly in the arrest, holding Williams down while Donnelly beat him. Vecchio is currently in prison on an aggravated domestic violence charge.
Donnelly then tried to justify the beatdown by claiming Williams was trying to reach for his gun – but bodycam video did not show that which led to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability to recommend an 89-day suspension.
Larry Snelling, who at the time was Chicago Police Superintendent, the agency’s top cop, agreed with the recommendation before retiring in July.
City attorneys are now recommending a $225,000 settlement, which the City Council must approve on September 23.
The city removed Donnelly’s name from its employee database, suggesting he either resigned, the city terminated him, or, most likely, he is serving his three-month suspension.
Chicago police camera operators spotted Williams at around 6:45 p.m. on July 30, 2024, believing they had seen a gun in his waistband after lifting his t-shirt, notifying the street cops who then confronted him, according to the 21-page investigative report from COPA.
Williams has a felony conviction that bars him from possessing guns, and he took off running, so Vecchio and Chicago police officer Patrick Kirwan chased him on foot.
Vecchio caught up to him and brought him down while officers Kirwan and Michael Strnad Jr. grabbed his arms as he was down on the ground.
That was when Donnelly arrived in his car and threatened to shoot Williams dead.
Vecchio held Williams down by his hair while Donnelly struck him in the face three times with his police radio, the COPA report states.
A crowd gathered and began protesting the aggressive arrest, prompting Donnelly to yell at witnesses, calling one witness a “b**** a** m**********” and confronting another man recording him, the report states.
“Other officers separated Officer Donnelly and the bystander,” the report states.
Donnelly later claimed he stuck Williams with the radio because the Black man was reaching for his gun to shoot the officers, but video proved that to be a lie.
COPA investigated all the officers involved, finding only Donnelly had violated departmental policy.
“Although Officer Donnelly claimed that he was trying to use the firearm in his possession, BWC footage does not contain any indication that was,” the COPA report states.
“As such, COPA concludes that Officer Donnelly employed excessive force when he utilized his police radio to strike in the head three times, and this allegation is Sustained.”
COPA recommended an 89-day unpaid suspension, an unusually long penalty compared with the suspensions other cops receive, which rarely exceed 10 days, if they face any suspension at all.
On March 26, Superintendent Snelling’s office sent a letter to COPA Chief Administrator LaKenya White concurring with the recommendation.
“The Chicago Police Department (“Department”) concurs with the recommended sustained findings and the penalty recommendation as they pertain to the involved member Police Officer Michael Donnelly, Star No. 13784,” the letter states.
“The Department will impose, consistent with the penalty recommendation, Police Officer Michael Donnelly, Star No. 13784 a suspension of eighty-nine (89) days.”
Williams filed a lawsuit within two days of the incident alleging excessive force.
Williams pleaded guilty in March 2025 to unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and is serving a three-year sentence. Prosecutors also charged him with aggravated assault on a police officer and resisting or obstructing a peace officer.
If the settlement is approved while Williams is incarcerated, any net proceeds could be handled through his attorney and would likely be deposited into his Illinois prison trust account, which is allowed under prison policy.
Local media report that at least six Black drivers have pending lawsuits against Donnelly, accusing him of racial profiling.
According to the Civic Police Data Project, Donnelly has had 19 complaints against him since joining the force in 2013, which is “more than 97 percent of other officers.”
Vecchio, the cop who held Williams down during the arrest, faces even more complaints against him and now sits in jail after police arrested him last month on charges of assaulting and strangling his girlfriend.
