A federal jury deliberated less than two hours Wednesday before convicting a suspended Chicago police officer of robbing three Hispanic-owned businesses with a partner in 1988 while both were on duty.
Rick R. Runnels Sr., a 13-year police veteran who has been suspended without pay since his 1992 indictment, was taken into custody after the verdict on orders of U.S. District Judge Wayne Andersen.
After hearing six days of testimony and arguments, the jury quickly found Runnels guilty on all eight counts of civil rights violations and robbery and conspiracy charges.
Federal prosecutors said Runnels and his partner, Leonard Kurz, who pleaded guilty last October, were on duty and wearing police uniforms when they robbed a tavern and transmission shop three months apart.
Four months later, both were on plainclothes detail when they drove five miles from their assigned duties in a police car and held up a carwash, evidence indicated.
After robbing the transmission shop, Runnels and Kurz drove the owner, Victor Dejesus, to an isolated location near Humboldt Park and kicked the handcuffed victim, Assistant U.S. Atty. Scott Levine told jurors in closing arguments.
Andersen set Runnels’ sentencing for June 15.
