Bellwood Officer Charged After Allegedly Sending LEADS Images to Shooting Suspect

Prosecutors say the officer used his personal phone to share confidential law-enforcement records and advised the suspect to hide or sell the vehicle involved.

Overview

Michael Davis, 32, made his first court appearance on July 18 and was charged with felony official misconduct, a crime that carries up to five years in prison.
Prosecutors allege Davis texted photos from the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS) to an acquaintance who was under investigation for a July 5, 2025 traffic-stop and shooting incident in River Forest.
Investigators say metadata from the shared images and phone records tied the messages to Davis’s personal number and showed the files were created near the Bellwood Police Department while he was on duty.
A judge released Davis pretrial with conditions that include surrendering his FOID card and any firearms, and his next court date is scheduled for July 21 in Maywood.
The case highlights risks from officers using personal devices and access to LEADS, a statewide database that holds sensitive investigation details, and could prompt tighter controls and oversight between local agencies.