Jury selection begins in Bradley Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic murder trial

KANKAKEE COUNTY, Ill. - Jury selection began today for the trial of a man accused of shooting and killing a Bradley police officer in 2021. 

Darius Sullivan was charged with murder in the deadly shooting of Bradley Police Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic and the wounding of her partner Tyler Bailey. 

Rittmanic and Bailey responded to a call of a dog barking in a car outside the Comfort Inn in December 2021. 

They traced the car to Sullivan and his girlfriend, Xandria Harris, who were staying at the hotel. The police went to their room where they were attacked and Rittmanic was killed and Bailey was wounded.

In earlier hearings, prosecutors said that Rittmanic was shot once. she ran down the motel hall and Sullivan stood over her while she pleaded for her life. He allegedly fired a fatal shot. Bailey was shot in the head, but survived.

Sullivan previously told the court that he couldn't hire an attorney and he refused to allow a public defender to represent him, prompting the trial to be delayed. 

Sullivan appeared in Kankakee County court wearing an orange jumpsuit. Potential jurors will be warned, there is video evidence which the court described as graphic.

Attorneys discussed how the jury pool would be questioned, and how to handle crowds for the high-profile case.

At one point, Sullivan stood up and swore at Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe, when he learned his son could be called to testify. Additional sheriff’s deputies surrounded Sullivan. 

Kankakee County Judge Kathy Elliott said it would take two days to pick a jury.

Rittmanic was a 21-year law enforcement veteran. She was well known to her community in Bradley. 

The trial is expected to last two weeks.