A US police official says "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett is now considered a suspect "for filing a false police report" and that detectives are presenting the case against him to a grand jury.
Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted the news on Wednesday after Smollett's attorneys met with prosecutors and detectives.
He had earlier declined to confirm reports subpoenas had been issued for Smollett's phone and bank records.
The dropped charges prompted a furious response from Chicago Police chief Eddie Jones and Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel. Source: Getty Images
Smollett told police he was attacked by two masked men while walking home from a Subway shop at around 2am on January 29. He says they beat him, hurled racist and homophobic insults at him and looped a rope around his neck.
Police couldn't find surveillance video of the attack but questioned two men who were initially deemed as suspects, and who were released Friday.
On Saturday, Guglielmi said information from the men had "shifted" the investigation and that police want to speak to Smollett again.
Actor Jussie Smollett claims he was attacked in Chicago. Source: AAP
Fox Television said Smollett "continues to be a consummate professional on set" and has reiterated he's not being written out of the show.
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