The woman who was found not guilty by reason of insanity after running over a Chicago police officer with his squad car is now asking the court to let her start over—by changing her name.
Whitley Temple filed a petition on July 11 to legally change her first name to “Michelle,” according to Cook County court records, after being acquitted last year of attempting to murder Officer Ed Poppish during a strange 2022 West Side encounter.
Temple, 36, was charged with brutally carjacking Poppish’s squad car in the 4400 block of West Jackson after he stopped to rescue her. Poppish said he spotted Temple partially nude and lying in the street while responding to a guns-fired report.
As he radioed for help, Temple sprang up, addressed the officer by name, and took the wheel of his squad car.
“Let me go. “This has nothing to do with you,” she allegedly informed him before reversing the car and dragging Poppish into another. He sustained a concussion and required stitches for a head injury.
Temple fled the scene in the patrol car, temporarily stopped at a gas station, and then drove on the Eisenhower Expressway, reaching speeds of 97 mph before exiting and colliding with other automobiles, according to prosecutors.
Judge Tyria Walton concluded a lengthy bench trial in May of last year, finding Temple, who faced charges of attempted murder, carjacking, and other offenses, not guilty due to insanity.
While awaiting trial, Temple found work as a lead accountant for the City of Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services. Despite being charged with attempted murder, she stayed and worked there. In early 2024, media reports revealed her condition, prompting the city to terminate her employment.
Temple is eager to make a fresh start.
Temple states in a name change petition filed this month that she has no criminal convictions or outstanding accusations and that she has never been sentenced to felony probation without a pardon.
While Temple was declared not guilty more than a year ago, Judge Walton continues to receive “fitness” updates on him every three months, with the next “fitness hearing” set for August 13, according to court records. Her first court date in the name change case is August 25.
Temple also filed a “298 Petition” in the name change case, seeking to have court expenses excused, according to records.
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