Waukegan man pleads guilty to impersonating cop, robbery

A Waukegan man has pleaded guilty to charges he used toy props to impersonate a police officer and rob people in 2013, authorities said.

Danny Blalock, 24, of the 500 block of Ash Street, pleaded guilty Thursday to single counts of aggravated robbery, falsely impersonating a police officer and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance in front of Judge George Bridges, Assistant State's Attorney Robert Money said Friday.

Blalock can be sentenced up to 15 years in prison at a Dec. 1 hearing, Money said. He is also eligible for probation.

He was taken into custody during a drug raid at his house in October 2013, and later identified as a suspect wanted by police for using toy props to pose as a police officer when robbing people, authorities said.

Police found packaged cocaine, heroin and marijuana during the search of Blalock's house, authorities said. During the raid, police also discovered a police shirt, toy handguns, walkie-talkies, handcuffs, and badges.

During questioning, Blalock admitted to police he committed several robberies while posing as an officer.

Blalock told police he used the toys to impersonate an officer by approaching victims on foot, shining a flashlight in their eyes and demanding purses, wallets and cellphones.

No one was injured in any of the robberies, authorities said.

Multiple charges of manufacturing and delivering of a controlled substance, robbery, and theft by deception were dropped in exchange for the plea agreement, court records show.