Family subpoenas Des Plaines police over shooting
An attorney for the family of Carlos Salgado subpoenaed the Des Plaines Police Department this morning for all information regarding the shooting of the 44-year-old Des Plaines man who was killed by police Sunday afternoon.
Tracie Salgado, who attorney Gregory E. Kulis said was the common law wife of Carlos Salgado, filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the two officers involved, claiming they used excessive force and that the shooting was unprovoked.
Salgado was killed during a traffic stop in Des Plaines on Sunday afternoon. Des Plaines police have yet to hold a news conference, issue a statement or release any further information about the shooting, which Kulis said strikes him as unusual.
"If police take someone's life, the family and the public is entitled to some explanation as to why that life was taken," Kulis said.
Kulis's firm specializes in police brutality and misconduct cases.
Kulis issued the subpoena Wednesday morning requesting all information about the shooting, including the names of the officers involved, witness statements and any squad car videos that may provide evidence.
Kunis said he expects a response from the police department within a week or two and hopes the information will help sort out what happened at the scene.
Details of what happened between the time the officers pulled over Carlos Salgado and when Salgado was fatally shot are sparse, but both officers were injured, according to police.
The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force is leading the investigation into the shooting, which occurred in a parking lot on the 1900 block of Touhy Avenue just after 3 p.m. Sunday.
The lawsuit stated Salgado was driving to his Des Plaines home when he was stopped.
Des Plaines police declined to disclose the traffic offense for which Salgado was stopped and would not detail how the officers were injured. Police said the officers were not shot.
Both officers were treated at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and released that night, according to police.
Kunis said Tracie and Carlos Salgado had been together for 15 years and have two children together. He said up until recently Tracie had been working while Carlos stayed home to take care of the kids.
"The family is still in shock," Kunis said. "To lose your husband and the father of your children on Mother's Day, they are in shock and just trying to manage at this point."
It is not clear how many shots were fired or if one or both officers discharged their firearms during the traffic stop, but both officers have been placed on paid temporary leave, according to police.
Police have described Salgado as a known gang member with an extensive criminal history involving drugs and weapons. According to Cook County court records, Salgado has a lengthy record that most recently includes a February arrest on two felony charges of possession of a controlled substance. He pleaded not guilty earlier this month and was due back in court June 4.
Salgado's criminal record included multiple convictions on drug and weapons offenses, court records show.
Kulis said he does not believe Salgado was armed when police shot him, but police would not confirm this.
A message left for acting Chief Mike Kozak Tuesday night was not returned, and a Des Plaines police sergeant at the department said there was no new information to be released.
Tracie Salgado is seeking "reasonable compensatory damages," punitive damages, attorneys' fees and costs and has requested a trial by jury.