News (Media Awareness Project) - US: IL: 3 Cops Indicted In $8,000 Extortion |
| Title: | US: IL: 3 Cops Indicted In $8,000 Extortion |
| Published On: | 1998-08-01 |
| Source: | Chicago Tribune (IL) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-07 03:25:45 |
3 COPS INDICTED IN $8,000 EXTORTION
Three Chicago police officers who allegedly demanded $8,000 from a couple in
exchange for not arresting them on drug and weapons charges have been
indicted on charges of home invasion, armed robbery and official misconduct,
prosecutors said Thursday.
The indictment was announced when John Labiak, with 9 years on the Chicago
force, Rodney Carriger, an 8-year veteran, and Ernest Hutchinson, with 12
years on the force, appeared before Cook County Circuit Judge William Lacy.
An attorney for one of the officers said all three were suspended without
pay by police officials about a week ago. The three had been assigned to the
Harrison District.
After the indictment was announced, Lacy approved a request by prosecutors
Tom Bilyk and Anita Alvarez for an order requiring the defendants to turn
over any guns they own to the Chicago Police Department, which will hold
them while the case is pending.
They are accused of following a woman into her home in the 1200 block of
West Huron Street on June 23 and then ransacking the residence.
Prosecutors alleged that one of the officers also spat on another woman
resident of the house when she asked whether he had a search warrant.
According to prosecutors, the officers' search turned up a small amount of
marijuana and two guns.
The officers then allegedly told a male resident of the house that he and
the others could face criminal charges unless they came up with $8,000.
While the man was out trying to raise the money, prosecutors said, an
off-duty police officer who is acquainted with the family coincidentally
stopped by the house and was told by the defendants to leave because they
were conducting an investigation.
A short time later, when the male resident returned with the money, two
other officers who were acquainted with him also entered the home and
witnessed the defendants accept the payoff, prosecutors said.
They said that after the defendants left the residence, the other two
officers contacted superiors and reported what they had seen.
The three were arrested on July 16.
The three suspended officers' next scheduled court appearance is Sept. 2.
Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"
Three Chicago police officers who allegedly demanded $8,000 from a couple in
exchange for not arresting them on drug and weapons charges have been
indicted on charges of home invasion, armed robbery and official misconduct,
prosecutors said Thursday.
The indictment was announced when John Labiak, with 9 years on the Chicago
force, Rodney Carriger, an 8-year veteran, and Ernest Hutchinson, with 12
years on the force, appeared before Cook County Circuit Judge William Lacy.
An attorney for one of the officers said all three were suspended without
pay by police officials about a week ago. The three had been assigned to the
Harrison District.
After the indictment was announced, Lacy approved a request by prosecutors
Tom Bilyk and Anita Alvarez for an order requiring the defendants to turn
over any guns they own to the Chicago Police Department, which will hold
them while the case is pending.
They are accused of following a woman into her home in the 1200 block of
West Huron Street on June 23 and then ransacking the residence.
Prosecutors alleged that one of the officers also spat on another woman
resident of the house when she asked whether he had a search warrant.
According to prosecutors, the officers' search turned up a small amount of
marijuana and two guns.
The officers then allegedly told a male resident of the house that he and
the others could face criminal charges unless they came up with $8,000.
While the man was out trying to raise the money, prosecutors said, an
off-duty police officer who is acquainted with the family coincidentally
stopped by the house and was told by the defendants to leave because they
were conducting an investigation.
A short time later, when the male resident returned with the money, two
other officers who were acquainted with him also entered the home and
witnessed the defendants accept the payoff, prosecutors said.
They said that after the defendants left the residence, the other two
officers contacted superiors and reported what they had seen.
The three were arrested on July 16.
The three suspended officers' next scheduled court appearance is Sept. 2.
Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"
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