Local Man Acquitted of Impersonating Cop for Third Time in Courtroom Victory Streak
Robert Ellis, 67, has won three consecutive cases defending himself against felony charges of impersonating a police officer in Cook County court. The most recent case found him not guilty on October 19, 2023.
The latest trial came after Ellis had been arrested twice in the 1990s for similar offenses and served time. His most recent conviction was for arson in 1997.
In March 2018, Ellis was pulled over by Chicago cops while driving with an expired temporary license plate. When he opened his wallet to provide his identification, police discovered a laminated badge from the Pembroke Township Police Department. However, after searching online databases, authorities couldn't find any evidence of the department's existence.
Ellis argued that he was stopped because of racial animus and claimed that he was appointed by Pembroke Township officials as a police commissioner for the Beta United States Railroad Corporation, despite there being no record of such an agency.
Last February, Ellis successfully defended himself against similar charges, with Judge Carol Howard ruling that Ellis wasn't lying about his credentials.
In his latest case, Ellis argued that the state's impersonation law should apply to underlying crimes like robbery or financial fraud rather than simply representing oneself as a police officer. He claimed it was an issue of free speech and presented evidence that the "Beta Alpha" badge he wore was not recognized by any authorities.
Ellis has expressed frustration with the courts, stating that his actions were an attempt to obtain new license plates for his car after being stopped at a White Sox game. He had also been accused of presenting a forged police badge to state officials and making false statements about his credentials.
With this latest acquittal, Ellis has now won three courtroom victories defending himself against felony charges of impersonating a police officer. He has expressed his gratitude towards the judge who acquitted him, saying that he plans to file a wrongful arrest lawsuit against law enforcement and prosecutors in order to secure financial compensation for his time served.
Robert Ellis, 67, has won three consecutive cases defending himself against felony charges of impersonating a police officer in Cook County court. The most recent case found him not guilty on October 19, 2023.
The latest trial came after Ellis had been arrested twice in the 1990s for similar offenses and served time. His most recent conviction was for arson in 1997.
In March 2018, Ellis was pulled over by Chicago cops while driving with an expired temporary license plate. When he opened his wallet to provide his identification, police discovered a laminated badge from the Pembroke Township Police Department. However, after searching online databases, authorities couldn't find any evidence of the department's existence.
Ellis argued that he was stopped because of racial animus and claimed that he was appointed by Pembroke Township officials as a police commissioner for the Beta United States Railroad Corporation, despite there being no record of such an agency.
Last February, Ellis successfully defended himself against similar charges, with Judge Carol Howard ruling that Ellis wasn't lying about his credentials.
In his latest case, Ellis argued that the state's impersonation law should apply to underlying crimes like robbery or financial fraud rather than simply representing oneself as a police officer. He claimed it was an issue of free speech and presented evidence that the "Beta Alpha" badge he wore was not recognized by any authorities.
Ellis has expressed frustration with the courts, stating that his actions were an attempt to obtain new license plates for his car after being stopped at a White Sox game. He had also been accused of presenting a forged police badge to state officials and making false statements about his credentials.
With this latest acquittal, Ellis has now won three courtroom victories defending himself against felony charges of impersonating a police officer. He has expressed his gratitude towards the judge who acquitted him, saying that he plans to file a wrongful arrest lawsuit against law enforcement and prosecutors in order to secure financial compensation for his time served.
! Three times in a row? That's like winning the lottery of courtroom victories! I mean, I can understand why he'd get frustrated with the system, but creating his own police badge and trying to pass it off? Yeah, that might not be the most brilliant plan 
. But hey, if it worked for him, who am I to judge?
. It's like, just because you're playing dress-up as a cop doesn't mean you can't express yourself. And let's be real, the state's impersonation law is kinda murky 
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. I mean, if anyone can make a comeback like this, it's Robert Ellis! He's definitely got more guts than most people would 
. And hey, even if he does win that wrongful arrest lawsuit, he'll probably be set for life 
.
. Keep on keeping on, Robert Ellis!
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it's all good, but can we please get some more solid evidence next time? 
He makes some pretty wild claims about his "Beta United States Railroad Corporation" and how it's all about free speech... but come on, if you're gonna wear a fake badge, own up to it, right? 
for something that was clearly blown out of proportion. The system can be flawed, and sometimes it feels like justice is being served more with a silver spoon in your mouth than a fair trial 
and it's amazing how deep pockets can get you off scot-free. I mean, 67 years old and still causing trouble? What's next? He's gonna start his own militia or something 
. It's like he's trying to pull off the ultimate scam. The law is basically just making a joke out of itself at this point 
, like what's driving someone to impersonate a cop three times? is it desperation? a cry for help? or just plain ol' crazy?! 
the system's already gotta be questioning his credibility at this point. but hey, kudos to him for sticking it out and winning these cases... though i wonder if he's just using them as a way to get back at society 
for this guy is wild! I mean, it's cool that he's on a hot streak, but seriously, shouldn't he just get a new ID and plates already? 
He's like a master of fake IDs 
, but come on, dude! 
Don't you think it's time to grow up and stop playing these games? Maybe he should just get a real job or something 
! This guy's been playing the same card (literally) three times now... an expired license plate leads to this whole ordeal? 
.
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. I gotta respect his determination, but also a bit concerned about his sanity 
! This guy Robert Ellis is like a superhero or something 
, always coming out on top in court! Three wins in a row? Unbelievable! I mean, you'd think that with three convictions under his belt (1990s arrests and the 1997 arson conviction), he'd be done for good 
. But nope! He's still standing strong 
. I totally get where he's coming from - it can't be right that he was stopped just because of who he is. And the idea that he might've been unfairly targeted in the first place... yeah, that's a pretty compelling argument 
! But at the same time, you've got to wonder what's going on in his head... Like, why did he keep making these moves and then get caught out each time? 
. But hey, kudos to him for sticking it out and winning these cases 
! His courtroom victory streak is totally on fire 
. I think he's got a solid case, btw - all that online research and evidence is gonna make it hard for the prosecution to disprove his story 
. And let's be real, the whole racial animus thing can't be ignored 
. It's time for the courts to re-examine their stance on impersonation laws and consider free speech implications 
. And what's with all this free speech business? Can't we have some common sense here? He's not just exercising his right to free speech, he's committing crimes and putting people in danger! 
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