A former Illinois police chief who was apparently fascinated by Mickey Mouse allegedly stole Disney merchandise from a Walmart in The Villages.
Christopher Raz, 59, a former police chief in Alsip, Illinois, pleaded not guilty to theft charges in Sumter County Court. He remains free on $500 bail.
He was arrested Oct. 5 at the Walmart at Buffalo Ridge Plaza in The Villages.
According to a Sumter County Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Raz entered the store and began putting items into plastic Walmart bags. He passed through every sales floor without attempting to pay for the item.
An unredacted arrest report currently available in his court documents states that Raz attempted to steal numerous crystal puzzles with Mickey Mouse, Buzz Lightyear, Donald Duck, and Dumbo themes. is made clear. The value of the item was $179.
His fascination with Mickey Mouse was noted in news articles and on his personal Facebook page at the time of his retirement.
Documents Raz filled out at the time of his arrest showed he was collecting $70,000 a year in pension benefits. He also listed the local address of The Villages at 1752 Morelos Road in that format.
Raz worked for the Alsip Police Department in suburban Chicago for 32 years. He was hired as a temporary employee in 1985 and steadily rose through the ranks. He was appointed police chief in 2009 and served in that position until his retirement in 2017.