Man whose estate got $1.5M settlement faced federal scrutiny

CHICAGO (AP) - A man whose family was paid $1.5 million by the city of Chicago after he died in police custody was under federal investigation at the time.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Justin Cook was a member of the Four Corner Hustlers street gang. Records show he was one of three unindicted co-conspirators named in a racketeering indictment.

That case allegedly ties 11 gang members to six slayings, along with several robberies, batteries and drug-related offenses. It's set for trial next year.

The 29-year-old Cook died in 2014 after police allegedly refused to give him his inhaler as he suffered an asthma attack after being arrested. His estate sued the city and three officers. City officials authorized the settlement in 2016.

A spokesman says the Chicago Law Department determined there was "a significant chance" police would be found liable.

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Information from: Chicago Sun-Times, http://chicago.suntimes.com/