ALVAREZ INDICTS THREE CORRUPT CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS CHICAGO TRIBUNE Copyright 1998 Chicago Tribune Company August 14, 1998 Section: METRO CHICAGO 3 COPS INDICTED IN $8,000 EXTORTION - SUSPECTS WERE REPORTED BY THEIR FELLOW OFFICERS Terry Wilson, Tribune Staff Writer. 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. Copyright © 1998 Chicago Tribune Company |
