Michael L. Jackson, 37, a communications and policy director with the Chicago Department of Public Health's ( CDPH's ) STD/HIV/AIDS Program, was denied bond Feb. 7 after turning himself in to police investigating the death of a taxi driver.
At the noon hearing at 26th and California, Jackson's attorneys, Jon Erickson and Michael Oppenheimer, contended that Jackson should be granted bail because of his standing in the community and because the victim, Haroon Paryani, was allegedly the aggressor in the situation. The attorneys also asked the judge not to take into consideration Jackson's 1993 DUI arrest in Georgia.
Erickson and Oppenheimer also named several people who could vouch for Jackson's character, including local activist Mike Bauer; the Rev. Stan Sloan, executive director of local AIDS agency Chicago House; and Ann Hilton Fisher, executive director of AIDS Legal Council of Chicago.
However, the state's attorney told Cook County Judge Raymond Myles that if convicted of both charges ( first-degree murder and aggravated vehicular hijacking ) , Jackson would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Myles said that, although the court presumes innocence until someone is proven guilty, the severity of the crime and the heinousness of the facts precluded the granting of bail.
Outside the courtroom, Erickson and Oppenheimer repeated their contention that Paryani was the aggressor and that Jackson was attempting to defend himself. When pressed how such a situation could escalate over what was supposedly an $8 fare or if drugs were somehow involved, the attorneys responded that the evidence would ultimately provide the truth. The reply was the same when questioned about Jackson's reaction to being denied bond, although Oppenheimer said that Jackson was 'disappointed.'
People were at a loss to understand how such a situation could transpire.
Dennis Sneyers, current president of the Hearts Foundation ( where Jackson formerly served on the board and which he co-founded ) , conveyed his thoughts. 'I am very surprised,' Sneyers communicated via e-mail to Windy City Times. 'In the eight years I have known Michael he never exhibited any type of aggressive behavior. If Michael was involved with this tragedy something must have happened that we don't know about yet. He was always a very caring and compassionate person. My prayers go to the family of the cab driver.'
Fisher, who spoke with Windy City Times prior to the bond hearing, said that ' [ i ] t's a terrible tragedy. It's just heartbreaking. It's all tragic. The driver's death is a tragedy—and Mike being accused is another.' When asked about an honor named after the alleged assailant—the Jackson Service Award—that she received last year from Hearts Foundation, Fisher responded that she's 'not taking down the award from the wall. The Mike Jackson whose hearing I'm going to is not the Mike Jackson I know.' Fisher also mentioned helping out Paryani's kin: 'I'm hoping that our neighborhood will start a fundraising drive on behalf of the driver's family.'
After the hearing, AIDS Legal Council released the following statement: 'The death of Haroon Paryani on Chicago's north side last Thursday night was a horrible tragedy. We know, from our own clients' stories, of the enormous personal courage it takes for an immigrant to come to this country and make a life in a new community and in a new language. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family at this difficult time.
'Mike Jackson has been a valuable colleague in the fight against HIV and AIDS in Chicago. We were among the scores of organizations and individuals he and the Hearts Foundation helped, directly and indirectly. We were stunned to hear that he had been charged with this crime.
'We do not know what happened on Briar Street on Thursday night. We do know, that whatever the outcome of the criminal proceedings, nothing will restore Mr. Paryani to his family.'
Windy City Times spoke with Jackson as recently as Feb. 3 while gathering information for an article concerning AIDS. Jackson seemed quite composed and showed no signs of erratic behavior. However, numerous people contacted Windy City Times to report allegations of drug abuse and signs of trouble, including Jackson allegedly being asked to leave a gay bar the week of the incident.
CDPH declined to comment on anything related to the case. They did announce Jackson's job was terminated due to the allegations. He had served in the post for 13 months.
There were numerous witness accounts of the incident that took place very early Friday morning, Feb. 4, in the 500 block of West Briar Place, Assistant State's Attorney Maria McCarthy said. She added that several witnesses have said they saw the taxi driver fall to the street. Jackson allegedly got in the cab, backed up and accelerated forward, driving over the victim's body. A female bystander ran to the cabbie's aid, but jumped out of the way when she allegedly saw the taxi's reverse lights. Jackson then allegedly backed over the victim, put the car in forward, and drove over Paryani a third time, dragging him a short distance, McCarthy said. The attacker then sped off in the cab and crashed it nearby on Broadway.
Paryani, 61, died of multiple injuries, including lacerations of the chest and heart. He was declared dead at 12:20 a.m. at Illinois Masonic Hospital, McCarthy stated. He leaves a wife and four children.
Jackson went to police later on Friday after contacting his attorneys. He was formally charged on Sunday.
Jackson's next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 24.
