Memorial For Fallen Officer Ella French Vandalized
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Video has surfaced on social media showing someone vandalizing a memorial to fallen Chicago Police Officer Ella French, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in West Englewood on Aug. 7.
Videos on Twitter, which were posted to a page that has since been deleted, show someone attempting to knock over a memorial inside the Thompson Center with a "Back The Blue" wreath and photo of French.
When the attempt to knock over the memorial was unsuccessful, the person filming grabbed the photo of French from the stand and balled it up while walking away.
Chicago police released the following statement regarding the incident:
Officer Ella French will live forever in our hearts. She was kind, respectful, compassionate, brave, loyal, dedicated, selfless. The exact opposite of this senseless act of vandalism.
The video also sparked outrage online, people calling it a disgraceful and disgusting act.
The footage was posted on Twitter just a day after Officer French was laid to rest.
A police source told CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot that there is a Chicago woman associated with the incident, which is a Class 4 Felony.
It was not immediately clear Saturday afternoon if she had been arrested or charged.
Chicago Police said Illinois State Police were investigating, since the vandalism happened in a state government building.
Illinois State Police said they are aware of the incident, and are looking into it.
CBS 2 tried to contact the woman linked to the Twitter account that posted the original video, but our efforts were not successful.
The memorial has since been removed from the spot seen in the video.
