Rosemont Cop Drove Getaway Car In Armed Robberies: Prosecutors

PARK RIDGE, IL — A Rosemont public safety officer and a Chicago man are accused of robbing two gas stations at gunpoint early Wednesday morning in Norridge and Park Ridge, police said. Sgt. Edward J. Karas, 40, of Rosemont, and Wright O'Laughlin, 48, of Chicago, were each charged Saturday with two counts of armed robbery. Police said Karas was on administrative leave from the Rosemont Department of Public Safety at the time of his arrest.

The two men were arrested around 1:30 a.m. Thursday after a Park Ridge officer noticed a vehicle matched the description provided by police of the suspects in the robbery of an Exxon station at 6 a.m. on at 8500 W. Lawrence Ave. in Norridge, according to Park Ridge Police Deputy Chief Duane Mellema. A similar armed robbery had been reported reported at the Shell station at 2301 W. Touhy Ave. in Park Ridge about 20 minutes earlier.

The Park Ridge sergeant followed the vehicle from the 1300 block of Higgins Road in Park Ridge to the 7-Eleven at 9501 Higgins Road in Rosemont, where Karas and O'Laughlin got out of the SUV, Mellema said. The on-leave Rosemont sergeant, motioned to the Park Ridge sergeant, suggesting they strike up a conversation. He indicated, unprompted, that he was a police officer. That fact had no impact one way or the other on the investigation and both men ended up being fairly cooperative with police, according to Mellema.

Officers from Rosemont and Norridge arrived and took both men into custody, initially on suspicion of the Norridge armed robbery. Mellema said Rosemont officers on scene quickly identified Karas and all three departments collaborated with the investigation. O'Laughlin and Karas were taken to the Norridge Police Department, and police later received warrants for he vehicle and the men's homes.

Investigators believe O'Laughlin entered the gas stations wearing a ski mask and Karas drove the getaway vehicle during the two incidents on the morning of Sept. 12. A firearm believed to have been used was found in the SUV after police obtained a search warrant, Mellema said. it was unfortunate to have to arrest a fellow law enforcement officer.

Karas was hired by Rosemont in 2005 and was put on leave June 11 when he was stripped of all police powers and put on leave pending an internal investigation into an unspecified matter, according to Rosemont police. Mellema said it was unfortunate to have to arrest a fellow officer.

"To a certain extent, it does damage the police image with the public and I don't like to see that, but at the same time, he's going to be held accountable, along with O'Laughlin, for the crimes that we believe they committed," Mellema said. "In this case, with regard to Karas anyway, those are some highly personal choices that he decided to make that he's responsible for."

Rosemont police said they were moving forward with plans to fire Karas in connection with that investigation. Superintendent Donald Stephens released a statement saying he was extremely disappointed with Karas' actions.

“We do not tolerate this misconduct in this department, nor this profession. This does not reflect on the hardworking, dedicated and honest officers that go out of their way each and every day to provide exceptional service to the community," Stephens said. "We are committed to providing a high level of service that is done with honesty, integrity, and respect. Edward Karas will be held accountable for his actions and will have his day in court.”

Bond hearings were scheduled for both men Saturday on charges of aggravated armed robbery, a class X felony. More information will be added as it becomes available.

Earlier: Armed Robberies Reported At Gas Stations In Park Ridge »