Actor Jussie Smollett has been charged with filing a false police report, which is a class four felony, according to a statement posted via Twitter on February 20 from the Chicago Police Department. Filing a false police report is disorderly conduct, as per Illinois code.

“Felony criminal charges have been approved by @CookCountySAO against Jussie Smollett for Disorderly Conduct / Filing a False Police Report. Detectives will make contact with his legal team to negotiate a reasonable surrender for his arrest,” the tweet read.

An Illinois grand jury found probable cause the Empire star had staged the assault he reported to Chicago police in January. Earlier in the day, it was revealed that Smollett, 36, is now “officially classified” as a suspect in the criminal investigation.

Smollett was hospitalized on January 29 and claimed he was attacked by two men in the early morning hours who screamed “racial and homophobic slurs” at him. The actor also claimed the two men tied a noose around his neck.

Just last week, on February 13, police arrested two brothers, Olabinjo Osundairo and Abimbola Osundairo, at a Chicago airport. On February 15, both of the brothers were released without charge. They are reportedly no longer suspects and have been cooperating fully with police.

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“Due to new evidence as a result of today’s interrogations, the individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charging and detectives have additional investigative work to complete,” a tweet read from the CPD on February 15.

“Like any other citizen, Mr. Smollett enjoys the presumption of innocence, particularly when there has been an investigation like this one where information, both true and false, has been repeatedly leaked,” the actor’s legal team said in a statement to In Touch. “Given these circumstances, we intend to conduct a thorough investigation and to mount an aggressive defense.”

A bail hearing is reportedly scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT on February 21.

 

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