Crystal Lake woman accuses Algonquin cop of threatening her

An Algonquin police officer has been placed on leave after a Crystal Lake woman with whom he had a relationship alleged he threatened her and was granted an order of protection.

Court documents show that Elizabeth Weaver’s request for an order of protection against officer Nicholas Corso was granted Oct. 16. Weaver declined to answer questions, stating she was afraid for her safety. Corso’s attorney, Jamie Wombacher, said he denies all the charges.

Court records show Weaver has been divorced several times and also used the last names Wiest, Bogseth, Culkin and Blaney; she filed orders of protection against three men other than Corso in 2006, 2010 and 2011.

In her filing against Corso, Weaver stated she ended her three-month relationship with Corso after finding out he was married. Weaver stated Corso was involved in a different court case involving her and said he’d lie on the stand about it.

Weaver also stated in the request that she was afraid for her safety and the safety of her three children after getting almost 1,500 text messages from Corso between Sept. 20 to 26 saying he might kill her father, demanding naked photos and stating he would call the Department of Children and Family Services on her.

In other text messages, Weaver stated, Corso said he could have someone follow her, and she said he once used a police-issued stun gun near her leg and arm in front of her children. The Algonquin Police Department told her it was in her best interest to get an order of protection, Weaver stated.

Algonquin Police Chief Russell Laine said Corso was placed on paid administrative leave. “Part of the order of the court was that he had to turn in firearms, so he was not able to carry his duty as a police officer,” he said. The police department is conducting an investigation to determine if Corso violated any law or police department rule, Laine said.

Attorney Wombacher said Weaver sent Corso just as many, if not more, text messages as Corso sent her. “It was conversations going back and forth, many of which she initiated,” she said. “I have probably 95 pages of text messages. I don’t believe any of them would be perceived as threatening.”

Corso doesn’t deny he was in a relationship with Weaver, Wombacher said. Court records show that Corso’s wife filed for divorce in May.

Weaver is currently serving a one-year probation sentence on a felony charge of filing a false police report regarding a residential burglary in Lake in the Hills, court officials said. She will be eligible for discharge Jan. 5.

In 2001, Laine sought to have Corso fired after he was accused of slapping a suspect in the face with a baseball cap. A judge ultimately agreed with the village’s police commission decision to give Corso a 30-day suspension. Laine declined to say whether there’s been any disciplinary action against Corso since then.