CPD Won't Demand Jussie Smollett Turn Over Cellphone

CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Department said it will respect "Empire" star Jussie Smollett's decision not to hand his cell phone over to police. The department requested the actor's phone in its investigation of the reported attack on the actor in the city's Streeterville neighborhood.

Area Central detectives hoped to obtain Smollett's phone to further their investigation, but the actor declined, police said.

CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said police had "no reason to doubt" Smollett's report.

Police said Smollett was walking in the 300 block of E. North Water Street at about 2 a.m., when two men wearing ski masks yelled homophobic and racial slurs and began beating the actor. They doused him with a chemical, believed to be bleach, and wrapped a rope around his neck, police said.

Smollet said the men called out "This is MAGA country" while attacking him. Police said the actor's initial statement didn't report a mention of MAGA — he recalled it later on. Smollet's music manager confirmed that he was on the phone with the actor at the time of the reported attack and heard the men yelling the phrase.

Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie T. Johnson called the reported attack "horrendous," and said Smollett has been "very cooperative" with police.

Police released surveillance photos of people of interest. A video has also been recovered that shows Smollett walking with a rope around his neck after the reported attack, police said.

"Let me start by saying that I'm OK," The 36-year-old actor said in a statement released to multiple news outlets Friday. "My body is strong but my soul is stronger. More importantly I want to say thank you. The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words."

Smollett also called out those who questioned whether he was attacked.

"I am working with authorities and have been 100 percent factual and consistent on every level," he said in the statement. "Despite my frustrations and deep concern with certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been spread, I still believe that justice will be served."

In a statement, Smollett's family said "he told police everything" and his "story has never changed."

"Our beloved son and brother, Jussie, was the victim of a violent and unprovoked attack," the family's statement read. "We want to be clear, this was a racial and homophobic hate crime."

Smollet, who came out as gay in 2015, plays the character Jamal Lyon in Fox's "Empire."

The Chicago Police Department said it's "taking this investigation very seriously and treating it as a possible hate crime."

"Detectives are currently working to gather video, identify potential witnesses and establish an investigative timeline," CPD said.

Chicago police ask anyone with information about this incident to contact Area Central Detectives at 312-747-8382 or report it anonymously to www.cpdtip.com.

Top image: Actor Jussie Smollett attends the FOX Network 2014 Upfront event on Monday, May 12, 2014, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)