EXCLUSIVE: Chicago police file on Jussie Smollett includes security footage taken from inside the actor's apartment block and shows him in his Mercedes with one of the two Nigerian brothers he allegedly paid to attack him - just days before the assault
- Jussie Smollett was facing 48 years behind bars on 16 felony charges for allegedly lying to police about the alleged hate crime attack on January 29
- But the Empire actor sensationally had all 16 disorderly conduct charges that a grand jury returned dropped against him on Tuesday
- DailyMail.com can reveal just how extensive the case against Smollett was, with reports showing cops had amassed a trove of evidence to back up the charges
- The Chicago police file on Smollett includes security footage taken from inside his apartment block
- The file also has clips showing him in his car with one of the two brothers allegedly paid to attack him days before the assault
- They say police accessed Smollett’s iCloud account to prove he had been messaging Abel and Ola Osundairo
- Smollett was caught on camera driving with one of the Osundairo brothers in his Mercedes on January 25 and again on January 27
- The police reports reveal that Smollett was never handcuffed, placed in jail cell or 'subjected to the media'
- It also states one of the Osundairo brothers admitted to filling an El Yucateco hot sauce bottle with bleach and later pouring it on Smollett
The Chicago police file on Jussie Smollett includes security footage taken from inside his apartment block and clips showing him in his car with one of the two men allegedly paid to attack him days before the assault, DailyMail.com can reveal.
Cops compiled the footage as part of the case against the Empire star, who has dodged a trial and potential jail time for filing a false police report after completing around 16 hours of community service and paying $10,000.
DailyMail.com obtained the police evidence list as part of a FOIA request, which reveals just how extensive the case against Smollett was, with police reports showing that cops had amassed a treasure trove of evidence to back up the charges.
Smollett had claimed to be a victim of a race hate crime following an alleged assault that left him bruised and bloody on January 29.
On February 20, the 36-year-old was charged with 16 counts of disorderly conduct after an investigation found that he had staged the attack on himself with the help of Nigerian-born brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo.
Yesterday, it was announced that all the charges had been dropped with Smollett proclaiming his innocence in a statement released after the decision was announced – much to the fury of Chicago mayor Rahm Emmanuel who described it as ‘a whitewash’.
The Chicago police file on Jussie Smollett includes security footage taken from inside his apartment block and clips showing him in his car with one of the two men allegedly paid to attack him days before the assault, DailyMail.com can reveal
On February 20, the 36-year-old was charged with 16 counts of disorderly conduct after an investigation found that he had staged the attack on himself with the help of Nigerian-born brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo
First Assistant Joe Magats, who took the decision not to prosecute, said he believed Smollett to be guilty of staging the attack but said his lack of previous criminal history and completion of public service had factored in the decision not to proceed with the case.
In a statement to DailyMail.com, a spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department said: 'As of 9:30 AM today, a Judge's order bars the Chicago Police Department from disseminating any further information related to this case and prevents us from commenting on any of the documents released previously through the FOIA process.'
The police reports reveal that Smollett was never handcuffed, placed in jail cell or 'subjected to the media'.
It also states one of the Osundairo brothers - whose name was redacted in the report- admitted to filling an El Yucateco hot sauce bottle with bleach and later pouring it on Smollett.
The file says police accessed Smollett’s iCloud account to prove he had been messaging the brothers and obtained footage from inside the actor’s luxury apartment block, as well as from the Sheraton hotel opposite.
Other footage came from inside a Korean beauty store called Beauty House, where the Osundairo brothers were filmed purchasing props for the attack, and from a Skokie, Illinois, gym called XSport Fitness.
Smollett was also caught on camera driving with one of the Osundairo brothers in his Mercedes SUV car on January 25 – four days before the allegedly staged attack – and again on January 27.
During the investigation, the brothers were put up at the modest Chicago South Loop Hotel – a three-star property where rooms start at $85 per night.
According to the report, it was there that the brothers were interviewed – telling cops they had received a $3,500 check from Smollett as well as a $100 bill to pay for props later used to stage the attack such as red hats and rope.
The brothers said the check was handed over on January 27 – two days before the alleged attack – and the bill on January 25.
The report reveals how disgraced Smollett refused to answer questions during a police interview – even after he was arrested and charged on February 21
Smollett was also caught on camera driving with one of the Osundairo brothers in his Mercedes SUV car on January 25 – four days before the allegedly staged attack – and again on January 27
The 61-page police report, which lists the City of Chicago as the victim in the case, says cops were later able to collect a copy of the check, signed by Smollett, from a branch of TCF bank located inside Jewel Food Store.
It also details how cops kept the brothers under 24 hour surveillance at the Chicago South Loop Hotel and ordered in takeout and fed them pizza as the investigation progressed.
Smollett took himself to the hospital after the January 29 incident once police had left his apartment. He is shown above
And it reveals how disgraced Smollett refused to answer questions during a police interview – even after he was arrested and charged on February 21.
He was also allowed to wait in a police car until the receiving area at Cook County Jail had been cleared, ensuring he did not come into contact with other prisoners.
Smollett’s arrest came less than a week after he had made a tearful appearance on Good Morning America in which he recounted details of the alleged assault.
A day later, Chicago Police arrested the Osundairo brothers at O’Hare airport as they returned home from a trip to Nigeria.
On Friday 15, the brothers were released from police custody – having initially been named ‘persons of interest’ in the case.
In the police report, the brothers are instead called ‘witnesses’ to the attack which is described in the document as being ‘a plan formulated and put into play by Smollett to conduct a staged incident where Smollett was beaten by [the Osundairo brothers] posing as persons other than themselves’.
The document also appears to show that police had doubts about Smollett’s account of the incident from the start and began the investigation by obtaining footage from inside the actor’s luxury apartment building on February 2.
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Surveillance footage emerged showing Ola and Abel Osundairo buying ski masks the day before the attack. Smollett gave them a $100 bill to pay for the bleach, ski masks, red hat and gloves that they used, according to prosecutors
Included were clips showing the entrance and exits of the building, as well as from the lobby and the hallway to the elevators.
Cops also obtained footage from cameras mounted outside the Sheraton hotel opposite Smollett’s apartment building and from the nearby Orso restaurant.
The latter showed the brothers being driven away from the scene of the alleged hate attack in a Toyota Highlander taxi.
Further footage shows the pair purchasing items used to stage the attack at a beauty store called Beauty House on Wilson Avenue.
According to the report, the Osundairos’ purchases included a face mask, knit caps, a red hat and sunglasses.
Other items, including the rope later found tied around Smollett’s neck, were bought at a hardware store in a different part of town.
The final part of the police footage comes from a branch of XSport Fitness in Skokie, a north Chicago suburb, and shows one of the brothers checking in on January 25 and 27.
The Chicago Police Department and Smollett’s attorney have been approached for comment.
CHICAGO POLICE'S REPORT ON JUSSIE SMOLLETT
