No Charges Against Darien Alderman Candidate: Police

DARIEN, IL — Prosecutors are not pressing charges against a Darien political candidate in connection with a suspected shooting in 2019, Darien's police chief said Thursday.

In an email to Darien Patch, Police Chief Greg Thomas said the state's attorney's office decided against charging Darien City Council candidate John Laratta with reckless discharge of a firearm.

See related story: Darien Brutality Complaint Deemed Unfounded

But the chief said there was plenty of probable cause for an arrest. The probable cause, he said, included Laratta's wife's comments to police and her niece on Dec. 29, 2019, the night of the suspected shooting. He did not say what those comments were, but Patch is seeking the police report. The chief did say the wife had spousal privilege, meaning she could not be compelled to testify against her husband in court.

Additionally, two neighbors, including a police officer with training and experience, told police they heard shots at the time, Thomas said. The police also found spent shell casings, gunshot residue and guns, including one with a bump stock, he said.

As for the length of the investigation, Thomas said it took nearly a year to get lab results for the gunshot residue.

Laratta, who said he is 75 and has a 100 percent military service-connected disability, has been vocal on Darien Patch about his experience with police officers on the night of Dec. 29, 2019. He filed a complaint that officers injured him and failed to provide him with an attorney when he requested one. Thomas said he investigated the complaint, but determined it was unfounded.

According to a Darien news release at the time, officers responded to a call of possible shots fired in the 8000 block of Barrymore Drive.

When officers arrived, a woman ran away from the house while a man was still inside, the release said. The woman said she heard gunshots and believed her husband had fired two rounds into a pond near the house, police said.

Officers said they were told the man was still inside and possibly armed. The man, later identified as Laratta, was eventually talked into leaving the house and taken into custody without any problems, police said.

Darien detectives obtained a search warrant and removed about 30 guns from the house and an unspecified amount of ammunition, according to the news release.

Laratta hasn't returned Darien Patch's email messages about whether he fired any shots that night.

Earlier this week, Patch reported that police said they were still investigating Laratta. In response, Laratta has written extensively in the comments to that story, calling it a "hit piece."

"The police are lying," he said. "I believe we all should stop believing in the creative writing aspects of the Darien police reports. My wife was on her way to her sister's in Joliet when the police called her in."

When Patch recently filed a public records request in the case, the city did not release the police report, saying the matter was subject to an "ongoing criminal investigation." Thomas confirmed that statement in an interview earlier this week.

But Laratta said he was not under any type of investigation.

"Inexperienced Patch reporter David (Giuliani) has been led into collusion with a ruthless gang of vicious thugs in blue Darien uniforms to stop me from becoming a voice for Darien ... as an Alderman," he said in a comment.

Laratta has found support among other commenters, who are also criticizing Patch and the police department.

Last month, Laratta filed to run against Ward 5 Alderwoman Mary Sullivan in the April 6 election.