Chicago police called to domestic incident at home of ex-Supt. Eddie Johnson: sources

Chicago police responded to an alleged domestic incident that occurred at the Bridgeport home of embattled former CPD Supt. Eddie Johnson Friday night.

According to sources familiar with the matter, officers were dispatched to Johnson’s home near 33rd Place and Racine Avenue around 9:30 p.m. after a “verbal altercation escalated” and Johnson allegedly shoved his wife.

According to a statement from CPD, no injuries were reported and no arrests were made.

Tom Needham, Johnson’s attorney, declined to comment Saturday morning. Johnson is married to Nakia Fenner, a CPD lieutenant.

Madeline Kenney/Sun-Times

Opening the door to a reporter, Fenner said Johnson was home Saturday afternoon.

A source close to Johnson said the former superintendent believes “this thing has been blown out of proportion.”

Last week, Johnson was sued by CPD officer Cynthia Donald, his former driver, who alleged that Johnson raped her repeatedly in his office at police headquarters and subjected her to more than three years of sexual assault and harassment.

The Office of the Inspector General also released a report last week that detailed a drinking-and-driving incident from October 2019 that ultimately led to Johnson’s ouster as the city’s top cop.

The report stated that Johnson consumed the equivalent of 10 alcoholic drinks at a downtown bar before driving a city-owned vehicle back to CPD headquarters in Bronzeville, where he dropped off Donald.

From there, Johnson drove towards his Bridgeport home but was soon after discovered at the intersection of 34th Place and Aberdeen, asleep behind the wheel of the SUV.

Responding officers did not administer any field sobriety tests and allowed Johnson to drive home — with an escort from police.

CPD Supt. David Brown has moved to suspend seven officers — including Deering District Cmdr. Don Jerome — who encountered Johnson that night for a host of procedural failures.

Johnson initially told reporters that he dismissed his driver while he was out to dinner with friends on the evening of Oct. 16, 2019. He said that, while he was driving himself home, he pulled over because he felt tired — which he blamed on a recent change in prescription medication.

Johnson was subsequently fired — a month before his scheduled retirement — after Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Johnson lied to her about the events of that night.