Picture a Sunday afternoon in a suburban supermarket—children tugging at their parents for candy, shoppers deliberating over cereals, and amidst this, a former star quarterback turned law enforcement officer allegedly caught red-handed in a decidedly un-heroic act.
Meet Christopher Pazan, 41, a man whose life took him from the football field of the University of Illinois to the crime-ridden streets patrolled by the Chicago Police Department. On an otherwise ordinary Wednesday, Pazan found himself on the wrong side of the law, accused of committing a curious transgression: attempting to pilfer baseball cards worth about $300 from a Meijer store nestled on South Western Avenue in Evergreen Park.
On that fateful day, it wasn’t a dazzling offensive play but a plain, albeit audacious, maneuver caught on camera. Sgt. Victor Watts of the Evergreen Park Police relayed how the watchful eyes of a security guard noticed Pazan slyly tucking the baseball cards into a yard waste bag. The irony? Pazan paid for the bag but not for its clandestine contents before making his apparent getaway.
As the narrative unfolded, the fallout was swift and severe. The Chicago Police Department, understandably less forgiving than a referee on the field, stripped Pazan of his police powers pending a thorough internal investigation. Before these allegations, Pazan was stationed at the Morgan Park District and delved into central investigations, a far cry from slipping baseball cards into a sack.
Ironically, Pazan wasn’t just any cop; he was also part of the ‘Chicago Enforcers’ team—composed of law enforcement officers—who jerseyed up to compete in a police football league. You’d think a man who tackled opponents would know not to fumble with the law.
Now, let’s rewind to his glory days. Young Pazan was the star quarterback at Brother Rice High School in Mount Greenwood, enjoying days filled with accolades, including All-American honors. His gridiron charm earned him a spot at the University of Illinois, where he started several games, capturing the attention of fans who could never have predicted this plot twist in his life story.
But it turns out the past few years have been more tumultuous for Pazan than a two-minute drill. Beyond the brightly lit façade, a darker reality loomed—one that involved serious financial distress. His salary of $111,804 wasn’t enough to shield him from financial storms. The salvos of a rocky divorce, court-legislated monetary commitments, and hefty unpaid legal fees began to unravel his life.
The day of his arrest was supposed to witness another courtroom appearance, but instead, it showcased the unveiling of his alleged theft. His former lawyer’s claims for unpaid fees further spiraled his financial woes into the public eye, while his current legal team frantically works to refinance his Beverly home to fend off mounting legal bills and settlement obligations.
Unfortunately for Pazan, his monetary misadventures are aptly documented in recent financial records. Fifth Third Bank tried and failed to collect a $4,000 loan from him last year. They couldn’t find him—talk about an elusive catch. His legal tango with JPMorgan Chase over a $15,000 debt eventually reached a settlement, albeit a bitter pill to swallow.
Chicago’s city hiring guidelines emphasize prospective recruits having a clean financial slate to deter bribery and susceptibility to illicit activities—an expectation that now sounds eerily like foreshadowing in Pazan’s tale.
For now, these tribulations boil down to a misdemeanor charge of retail theft. An embarrassing junction for the once-revered athlete, Christopher Pazan stands at the threshold of a different kind of judgment come June 23, in Bridgeview. Maybe he’ll find refuge in the fact that bats, balls, and cards weren’t the true accusers here, but rather a cautionary tale whispered through the cracks of life’s unpredictable game.
All eyes will be on the courtroom, waiting to see if Pazan can avoid another costly fumble or if he writes the next chapter of his life story from the wrong side of the law.
