FOR JOINING US HERE AT 11:00.

I’M ALEX MARAGOS.

>> AND I’M KATIE KIM IN FOR

MARION BROOKS.

OUR TOP STORY, A LIFE CHANGING

DECISION FOR SEVEN MORE PEOPLE

CONVICTED UNDER CORRUPT POLICE

SERGEANT WATTS.

>> THIS MORNING, THEIR RECORDS

WERE CLEARED.

>> SANDRA TORRES HAS MORE ON

THEIR NEXT STEPS.

>> Reporter: THAT’S RIGHT.

THE COOK COUNTY STATES ATTORNEYS

OFFICE BASICALLY DISMISSED DRUG

CASES AGAINST SIX MEN AND ONE

WOMAN THIS MORNING.

AND THAT BASICALLY BRINGS THE

TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES EXONERATED

UP TO THIS POINT TO THE TOTAL OF

50, ALL CONNECTED TO SERGEANT

RONALD WATTS.

>> ENORMOUS, ENORMOUS NUMBER.

IT IS UNPRECEDENTED IN THIS

COUNTY.

AND IT IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT

THIS WAS ALLOWED TO RUN OVER

THIS COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: AND IN ADDITION TO

THE SEVEN CASE DISMISSALS TODAY,

18 MEN RECEIVED THEIR

CERTIFICATE OF INNOCENCE.

THEY WERE ALL EXONERATED BACK IN

SEPTEMBER AS PART OF THE

SERGEANT WATTS INVESTIGATION.

IN COURT TODAY THEY HAD BIG

SMILES ON THEIR FACES SAY THIS

CERTIFICATE WILL HELP THEM

OBTAIN JOBS AND HAVE A NORMAL

LIFE.

THEIR SENTENCES RANGED FROM

PROBATION TO FIVE YEARS IN

PRISON FOR CRIMES THEY DID NOT

COMMIT, AND THEY BLAME WATTS AND

HIS CREW FOR TRAUMATIZING THEM.

>> I FEEL GREAT.

I FEEL GREAT.

WHEN JOSH CALLED ME TWO DAYS AGO

AND TOLD ME OVER THE PHONE WHAT

WAS GOING ON, I JUST DROPPED THE

PHONE, LIKE WOW.

IT’S GREAT.

>> I FEEL A LITTLE GRATEFUL, YOU

KNOW, BUT I’M STILL MESSED UP,

YOU KNOW, BEING

INSTITUTIONALIZED, KNOWING THAT

I HAVE BEEN PUT IN THE POSITION,

LOCKED UP, YOU KNOW WHAT I’M

SAYING, WHEN YOU’RE LOCKED UP,

EATING SLOP, STAND IN A BOX,

LIVING LIKE AN ANIMAL.

>> Reporter: IN 2012, WATTS AND

ANOTHER OFFICER WERE SENT TO

PRISON FOR FRAMING INDIVIDUAL ON

THE SOUTH SIDE, INCLUDING THOSE

MEN, FRAMING THEM WHILE RUNNING

THEIR OWN DRUG TRADE.

OF COURSE WATTS IS NOW OUT OF

PRISON SO ATTORNEYS WHO

REPRESENTED ALL THE MEN AND

WOMEN SAY IT IS TOO BAD,

UNFORTUNATE THAT THERE IS NO

ACCOUNTABILITY.

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