The Sun-Times reported that \u201cnolle\u201d is a reference to the Latin phrase \u201cnolle prosequi,\u201d which means \u201cto refuse to pursue.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEmpire\u201d actor\u00a0Smollett<\/a>, 36, faced 16 charges for allegedly filing a\u00a0false police report<\/a>claiming that two individuals wearing \u201cMake America Great Again\u201d hats attacked him on the street with a chemical substance and a noose.<\/p>\n The state\u2019s attorney\u2019s office said in a\u00a0statement<\/a>\u00a0Tuesday it dropped the charges \u201c[a]fter reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollett\u2019s volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago.\u201d<\/p>\n The office added in a statement to The Daily Caller News Foundation that Smollett\u2019s charges \u201cwould not have been dropped\u201d had he not forfeited his $10,000 bond and agreed to do community service.<\/p>\n Judge Steven Watkins ordered Smollett\u2019s court file to be sealed immediately after the charges were dropped, according to the Chicago Tribune.<\/p>\n A fan takes a selfie with actor Jussie Smollett following his court appearance at Leighton Courthouse on March 26, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n First Assistant State\u2019s Attorney Joseph Magats, the prosecutor who reportedly made the final decision to drop Smollett\u2019s charges, said he stood behind the Chicago Police Department\u2019s investigation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe stand behind the CPD investigation done in this case, we stand behind the approval of charges in this case,\u201d Magats told the Sun-Times. \u201cThey did a fantastic job. The fact there was an alternative disposition in this case is not and should not be viewed as some kind of admission there was something wrong with the case, or something wrong with the investigation that the Chicago Police did.\u201d<\/p>\n Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, who said the case against Smollett was \u201crock solid,\u201d was reportedly \u201cfurious\u201d after learning of the decision to drop the actor\u2019s charges during a police academy graduation ceremony.\u00a0(RELATED: Police Chief \u2018Furious\u2019 At Smollett Case Dismissal)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The abrupt decision to drop all charges against Smollett was \u201ca kick in the gut,\u201d said Ed Wodnicki, the police commander who oversaw the investigation into the actor.<\/p>\n \u201cWe wasted time and effort on a reported serious, serious crime, to get to the point that it\u2019s a lie? I want reimbursement. I\u2019m a citizen in the city of Chicago. I want my money back,\u201d Wodnicki said, noting that the $10,000 bond that Smollett forfeited \u201cdoesn\u2019t come close\u201d to the cost incurred to investigate the case.<\/p>\n![\"CHICAGO,](\"https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jussie-Smollett-Taking-Selfie.jpg\")
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