Crime & Safety
Smithtown Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Suffolk Police Chief's Gun
Christopher Loeb, 27, admits to taking James Burke's bag out of his police cruiser on Dec. 14, 2012.
A Smithtown man pleaded guilty to stealing Suffolk County's highest-ranking police officer's gun out of his cruiser in December 2012.
Christopher Loeb, 27, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a stolen weapon in state Supreme Court on Friday, Newsday reports. In exchange for his plea, Loeb will be sentenced to 3 years in prison and ordered to take part in drug rehabilitation.
Loeb was initially arrested on Dec. 14, 2012 for stealing Suffolk County Police Chief James Burke's gun belt and ammunition from his police-issued vehicle.
He later alleged Burke had violated his civil rights by beating him while in custody at the Fourth Precinct and allegedly police searched his home before the items were stolen.
Loeb's plea will eliminate the possibility of trial for Burke. He also admitted to having a $100-a-day heroin habit during pretrial hearings.
Read Newsday [subscription required] for more on Loeb's plea and what it means for the allegations against Burke.
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