Ex-CPD cop accused of not paying workers

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A former Chicago police officer is charged with theft and refusal to pay wages to employees that worked at his security companies.

Former employees of Sammie Parr III first called the ABC7 I-Team six months ago. They all say SOS Intellectual Security Company or MVP Security Company owes them pay checks ranging from $1,000 to $4,000.

The Department of Labor and the Illinois Attorney general say Sammie Parr the third is the man responsible for paying them.

Parr avoided calls and requests for an interview, but ABC7 Eyewitness News showed up for his recent court appearance.

"I follow by the rules you all set," Parr said. "Never stole anything in my life. Never will. Never have to."

His former employees disagree. They said Parr owes them each $1,000 to $4,000.

"It makes me feel used and highly upset. I have children. I have bills," Rimmana Givens said. Givens and other former security guard filed claims with the Department of Labor, which determined Parr is responsible for the pay.

In a judgment issued by the state, Leron Mallette is owed $3,343.16, which includes 2-percent in damages. It was supposed to be paid in October, but he hasn't seen a dime, Mallette said.

"They give you an excuse. It's going to be at such and such a time and such and such a date but it never gets here," Mallette said.

The Department of Labor and the Illinois Attorney's General Office said between both agencies, there are 76 complaints from employees who said they're owed wages from at least eight different company names. Those names are all connected to Parr, officials said.

A Department of Labor spokesperson said Parr, who was a Chicago police officer for 10 years, failed to show up to hearings.

"They won't answer any phone calls. When we go to the office, no one comes to the office to open it. No one has gotten in touch with us," Kim Washington said.

The ABC7 I-Team called Parr, left messages with his parents at their south suburban Park Forest home, and stopped by two of his listed addresses, where only eviction notices were found.

He was arrested in December by Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office. In January, Parr was indicted by a Cook County Grand Jury for refusal to pay wages, theft and theft of government property.

When asked if he still had security guard companies, Parr said, "None whatsoever."

He then said he wanted to talk, but was following his lawyer's lead.

"I want to talk so bad. And you know, I do," Parr said. "No, I can't. I got to listen to the lawyer and the judge and all that."

The Attorney General's Office alleges Parr "failed to pay his employees for work they performed and stole checks made payable to him and The Illinois Department of Labor." Those checks , written by Eastlake Management, a housing management company that had contracts with Parr to supply security, were meant for his workers, the AG said.

Parr's attorney said the charges are "based on conduct of an unscrupulous client . . . and that client's failure to pay for contracted services." He said Parr is working with the proper authorities to resolve the wage complaints, but that those complaints are unrelated to the pending charges. The AG 's office says it's all connected.

"If I owe anyone they will get paid. If I owe anyone, they will get paid like I just told you. End of this conversation," Parr said.

Workers who are concerned about an employer's ability to pay should first talk to other workers and then look into filing a complaint with the Department of Labor.