Former Round Lake Beach cop ordered to leave village officals alone
A former Round Lake Beach police officer facing prison time on theft charges was ordered Thursday to keep away from village officials after authorities say he falsely accused Mayor Richard Hill of driving while intoxicated.
Lake County Judge Mark Levitt told Kenneth Rydz, 41, of McHenry to have no contact with Hill or other town leaders, after hearing that the former officer called Lake County Sheriff deputies in September with the drunken driving claim.
The call resulted in Hill being pulled over by sheriff deputies at 10:11 p.m. Sept. 30, on Grass Lake Road near Route 59 in Antioch Township, authorities said. A deputy testified in court Thursday that Hill was not intoxicated during the traffic stop.
Rydz was following Hill's car at the time and stopped when the mayor was pulled over, authorities said. He was questioned by deputies, authorities said, but allowed to leave without additional charges being filed.
Hill declined to comment on the situation Thursday.
Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Scott Turk made Levitt aware of the event Thursday morning.
"You do not want to find out what happens to people who do not follow my court orders," Levitt later told Rydz.
A 17-year veteran of the Round Lake Beach Police Department, Rydz pleaded not guilty in August to multiple counts of theft, identity theft and official misconduct. The charges allege he used police department money to purchase more than $3,700 in gasoline for personal use, authorities said.
Rydz, who is free on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond, faces 3 to 7 years in prison if found guilty of the most serious charge.
Round Lake Beach officials initially placed Rydz on administrative leave with pay, then later fired him.
According to authorities, Rydz used a police department credit card to purchase fuel from a Thornton's gas station between March 2013 to May 2014, even after officers were told to use the card only in case of an emergency.
State's attorney investigators found transactions from Rydz totaling more than $3,700, leading to criminal charges being filed July 7, officials said.
Rydz is due back in court Dec. 9 for a case management conference.