Cook County Corrections Sergeant Charged After Claiming Armed Robbers Stole His Duty Weapon

Skokie, IL – A Cook County corrections sergeant is facing criminal charges after he reported being mugged for his duty weapon on New Year’s Eve after the gun was stolen out of his unlocked car.

The incident began at about 7:45 p.m. on Dec. 31 when Cook County Sheriff’s Sergeant Raad Korkes called 911 and reported that he had been a victim of an armed robbery, the Skokie Patch reported.

Prosecutors said that Sgt. Korkes had actually left his weapon in the his unlocked vehicle parked near his home and the weapon was stolen.

But instead of admitting a mistake, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Ravin said Sgt. Korkes told the 911 operator that two suspects had disarmed him and stolen his department-issued gun, the Skokie Patch reported.

Ravin said Sgt. Korkes told investigators that one of the muggers was black and the other was too far away for him to a get a good look.

She said the sergeant embellished his story with even more details and facts when he was interviewed later on by investigators from the Park Ridge Police Department, the Skokie Patch reported.

He provided detailed clothing descriptions, the ages, and heights of his alleged attackers, according to prosecutors.

Ravin said the law enforcement officer’s account became even more elaborate in additional interviews with detectives, the Skokie Patch reported.

Sgt. Korkes claimed both of the muggers wore ski masks but claimed he could see the skin around their eyes and determine their race.

Ravin said that the sergeant also allegedly told investigators that one of the suspects pointed a gun at his head, according to the Skokie Patch.

But when investigators pulled security footage from the area around Sgt. Korkes’ home, they could not find the armed robbery.

Instead, the prosecutor said video footage showed a person wearing a light-colored hoodie get out of a running car in front the sergeant’s home on Good Avenue, the Skokie Patch reported.

The video showed the suspect checked for unlocked doors and windows on Sgt. Korkes’ and his neighbor’s house, and approached a car parked behind the sergeant’s house before he got back into his car and left the area.

Prosecutors said Sgt. Korkes called 911 about 40 minutes later and claimed he had been robbed about 15 minutes prior to calling, the Skokie Patch reported.

Ravin said that when the sergeant was confronted with the evidence of the theft of his duty weapon from his vehicle, he admitted having lied to police.

“I f-ked up,” Sgt. Korkes allegedly told investigators. “I should have told the truth to the first officer that came to my house but I was worried for my job.”

Peter Garbis, the sergeant’s defense attorney, said his client began cooperating with police on Jan. 1 and turned himself in to the Park Ridge Police Department, the Skokie Patch reported.

“He admits that he was afraid because he had left his weapon unsecured in the car and it was unlocked that he’d lose his job,” the prosecutor said. “In this case, the cover-up is worse than the original incident.”

The law enforcement officer was charged with two counts of disorderly conduct, the Skokie Patch reported.

A Cook County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said that Korkes has been “de-deputized” and placed on desk duty.

Korkes, a six-year veteran of the sheriff’s department, was released on bail and was permitted to keep his firearm over the objections of prosecutors, the Skokie Patch reported.

He is due in Skokie court on Feb. 7.