Police officer arrested for extortion

The Associated Press

CHICAGO -- A city police officer was arrested on Thursday for allegedly taking money from a man in exchange for protecting the man's life, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

Patrol officer Mario Morales, 32, a five-year member of the force, was arrested on an extortion charge and suspended without pay, police department spokesman Pat Camden said.

According to an FBI affidavit, Morales and another man allegedly broke into the home of a prominent Latin Kings gang member in March or April and stole hundreds of pounds of marijuana and thousands of dollars in cash. The two allegedly split the money and drugs, according to the affidavit.

On Sept. 1, the affidavit claims, Morales told his alleged accomplice that the Latin Kings wanted to kill him, and offered to protect the other man for $5,000.

The man allegedly paid Morales on Sept. 7, using money provided by the FBI, the affidavit said.

Morales was being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, and is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 18, authorities said.

The other man had not been arrested, U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Randall Samborn said Friday.