Jussie Smollett trial: detective denies claims police rushed to judgment

Lead investigator says two dozen officers spent about 3,000 hours pursuing horrible hate crime' but concluded attack was staged

The lead investigator of an alleged attack on the actor Jussie Smollett on Tuesday denied claims by defense attorneys that Chicago police rushed to judgment, saying about two dozen detectives clocked some 3,000 hours on what they thought was a horrible hate crime" before concluding the former Empire star had staged a hoax.

Taking the stand as prosecutors began their case, former Chicago police detective Michael Theis said he initially viewed Smollett as a victim of a homophobic and racist attack and that his team absolutely" did not rush to judgment.