Three police officers from the Schaumburg have been accused of stealing drugs they seized as part of their duties. According to prosecutors in DuPage County, the three stole marijuana and cocaine they obtained in the course of making arrests, then shared the profits after an informant resold the drugs on the street.
According to authorities, the three were recorded speaking about the thefts and a video camera caught them breaking into a Roselle storage locker to steal $20,000 they allegedly thought belonged to a drug dealers. That cash was apparently found later in the homes of all three officers, one of whom allegedly told investigators that he participated in the scheme simply for the thrill. The scheme came apart when the informant working with the officers was caught with cocaine in his Carol Stream home. Now the officers have been charged with a number of felonies, including unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, armed violence, unlawful criminal drug conspiracy, official misconduct, theft and burglary.
The officers, who were arrested after a two week investigation, reportedly obtained the drugs they sold by skimming from the amounts they seized during arrests of dealers. They have been placed on leave. According to authorities, all three admitted to at least some of the allegations.
The arrests will reportedly force authorities in Cook and DuPage counties to review cases the three men investigated to ensure they were handled properly. Defense attorney may ask to dismiss cases the officers investigated because of questions about their credibility.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times, “Three Schaumburg cops accused in drug rip-offs ordered held on $750,000 bonds,” Dan Rozek, January 17, 2013
