
Whitley Temple, a 35-year-old woman who was accused of attacking a Chicago police officer, stealing his squad car and dragging him with the vehicle while she was naked, has been acquitted of all charges by reason of insanity. Cook County Judge Tyria Walton reached the verdict following a bench trial last month.
The incident took place on June 13, 2022, when Officer Edward Poppish found Temple naked in the street in West Garfield Park. As Poppish called for an ambulance, Temple allegedly got into the squad car’s driver’s seat and drove off, dragging the officer and causing him to suffer a concussion and require stitches to the head.
Prosecutors claimed that Temple then drove the stolen squad car onto the Eisenhower Expressway at speeds of up to 97 mph before crashing into four cars on the Near West Side.
During the trial, Temple’s defense attorney argued that she was “in a psychotic state” at the time of the incident, with paranoid ideas that people were trying to kill her and her family. The judge agreed, finding Temple not guilty by reason of insanity on charges including attempted murder, aggravated battery to a police officer, vehicular hijacking and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Remarkably, while awaiting trial, Temple had been hired as a lead accountant by the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services. However, she was reportedly fired in March after her employment came to light.
The verdict means Temple remains free but must report to court for a meeting with mental health officials to establish a treatment plan.