Officer Accused Of Stealing Credit Cards From Arrested Man
A Chicago police officer has been charged with theft and official misconduct after being accused of stealing credit cards from a man he arrested and then running up $1,600 in charges.
James Chevas, 36, is accused of taking a debit and credit card from Nik Lohja, who Chevas arrested after a bar fight.
Lohja said Chevas took the cards and his driver's license when he was in police custody.
Lohja said the driver's license was later returned by a different officer and when Lohja asked about his debit and credit card, that officer said he didn't know anything about them.
Officials Lohja said was then seen on surveillance video using one of the credit cards at a store on Nov. 5.
Lohja said he canceled the cards after finding several charges he didn't make.
He suspected Chevas and filed a complaint with the department's Office of Professional Standards.
Chevas was charged and appeared at a bond hearing Wednesday.
He has denied the charges.
A department spokeswoman said Chevas is an 11-year veteran and has been stripped of his police powers.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
http://www.local6.com/news/5544476/detail.html
A Chicago police officer has been charged with theft and official misconduct after being accused of stealing credit cards from a man he arrested and then running up $1,600 in charges.
James Chevas, 36, is accused of taking a debit and credit card from Nik Lohja, who Chevas arrested after a bar fight.
Lohja said Chevas took the cards and his driver's license when he was in police custody.
Lohja said the driver's license was later returned by a different officer and when Lohja asked about his debit and credit card, that officer said he didn't know anything about them.
Officials Lohja said was then seen on surveillance video using one of the credit cards at a store on Nov. 5.
Lohja said he canceled the cards after finding several charges he didn't make.
He suspected Chevas and filed a complaint with the department's Office of Professional Standards.
Chevas was charged and appeared at a bond hearing Wednesday.
He has denied the charges.
A department spokeswoman said Chevas is an 11-year veteran and has been stripped of his police powers.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
http://www.local6.com/news/5544476/detail.html
