Chicago Cop Charged with Battery Against Gaming Official at Horseshoe Casino

Lori Ann Cooper, a police officer from Chicago, has been charged with a level 6 felony and three misdemeanors after allegedly striking an Indiana Gaming Commission agent at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. The incident occurred on October 30, when Cooper was working off-duty as security at the casino. According to charging documents, Cooper was asked to respond to a bathroom, where a casino employee may have been battered by an intoxicated female patron. Video surveillance corroborates the Gaming Commission agent's claim that Cooper charged at him and struck him twice in the chest and stomach area with her open hand.

Key Takeaways:

• Lori Ann Cooper, a Chicago police officer, has been charged with a level 6 felony and three misdemeanors for allegedly striking an Indiana Gaming Commission agent at Horseshoe Casino.
• The incident occurred on October 30, when Cooper was working off-duty as security at the casino.
• Charging documents state that Cooper was intoxicated and was being escorted out of the casino by security personnel, but then began fighting with her friend and allegedly charged at the Gaming Commission agent, striking him twice.
• Video surveillance corroborates the Gaming Commission agent's claim, showing Cooper charging and striking him with her open hand.
• The Chicago Police Department has opened an internal investigation into the incident and has relieved Cooper of her police powers pending the outcome.
• Cooper is facing charges of battery against a public safety official (level 6 felony) and resisting law enforcement, disorderly conduct, and public intoxication (three misdemeanors).

Statistics:

• October 30: The date of the incident at Horseshoe Casino.
• 2: The number of times Cooper allegedly struck the Gaming Commission agent in the chest and stomach area with her open hand.
• 24 hours: The amount of time Cooper and her friend were actively being removed from the casino premises.
• 1: The number of Indiana Gaming Commission agents involved in the incident, Willie Ervin Jr.
• 1: The number of body cameras worn by security personnel, including Hammond police Officer Xavier Reillo.

Sources:

• [Chicago Tribune]
• [Lake Superior Court documents]
• [The Times]
• [Hammond police records]