Woman who ran over Chicago police officer with his own squad car files to change her name

CWB Chicago ^ | July 20, 2025 | Time Hecke

[PBRCat]

The woman found not guilty by reason of insanity after running over a Chicago police officer with his own squad car is now asking the court to let her start anew—by changing her name.

Whitley Temple, who was acquitted last year of attempting to murder Officer Ed Poppish during a bizarre 2022 West Side encounter, filed a petition on July 11 to legally change her first name to “Michelle,” according to Cook County court records.

Temple fled the scene in the patrol car, briefly stopped at a gas station, then continued onto the Eisenhower Expressway, reaching speeds of 97 mph before exiting and crashing into multiple vehicles, prosecutors said.

Judge Tyria Walton ruled Temple, charged with attempted murder, carjacking, and other felonies, was not guilty by reason of insanity after a drawn-out bench trial that ended in May last year.

While awaiting trial, Temple secured a job as a lead accountant for the City of Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services. She remained employed there while facing attempted murder charges. The city ended her employment after media reports made her situation public in early 2024.

[hal ogen]

ANY photo of her likely would not be “decent”.

[Albion Wilde]

Crazy as a Fox. Also hard to find a decent photo of her.

Here's the only one I found:

[farm_kid]

And don’t call her Shirley.

[frank ballenger]

Ha. There are some bad ones.

[scrabblehack]

I’m thinking “Carlotta” - not sure about the surname.