WAND TV – The man accused of shooting an Illinois State Police trooper during a traffic stop in Springfield has pleaded not guilty.
Cristobal Santana, 37, of Chicago is facing six counts, including two counts of attempted murder and multiple battery charges.
In court this week, he waived a preliminary hearing and entered a plea of not guilty. He appeared in a wheelchair and remains jailed.
Springfield police and other departments responded to the 1600 block of Toronto Road at 10:44 p.m. on October 24 to reports of an officer shot.
Trooper Dakotah “Kody” Chapman-Green was shot during the interaction, and ISP said Santana allegedly fired at least ten shots, and after emptying the gun clip, hit Trooper Chapman-Green in the head with the gun several times, causing facial fractures, a skull fracture, and a brain bleed.
After firing shots at Trooper Chapman-Green and attacking him, Santana reportedly fled his vehicle on foot but was taken into custody at 1:58 a.m. on October 25, according to ISP.
Santana is also person of interest in the shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend, a special education teacher on October 22.
Trooper Chapman-Green was just released from the hospital this week.
The public is reminded that all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.