Four Men Charged With Cop Impersonation Scheme In DuPage County

WHEATON, IL — Three 19-year-old men and a 22-year-old man have been charged with going door-to-door impersonating the police in Wheaton, Winfield and West Chicago. Luke Halstead, 19, of Winfield, Corey Abendroth, 19, of Wheaton, and Thomas Kozie, 19, of Oak Park, and Khoung Dam, 22, of Carol Stream, were taken into custody Thursday after residents shared surveillance videos and images of Kozie ringing doorbells and telling homeowners he was investigating a missing persons case.

The four men were caught after an investigation that was prompted when a West Chicago resident reported that a man, later identified as Kozie, came to their door and claimed to be a Winfield police officer Monday night. Police say Kozie left the scene and got into a car occupied by Halstead and Abendroth.

The men are accused of repeating the same ruse at "several homes in West Chicago, Wheaton and Winfield" throughout the rest of Monday night, according to police.

The DuPage County Sheriff's Office joined forces with the Wheaton and Winfield Police Departments to conduct the subsequent investigation, which led them to Halstead, Kozie, and Abendroth.

After the arrests were made, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick said, "This type of reckless behavior will not be tolerated in DuPage County ... I'm thankful that no one got hurt and commend the teamwork across the different agencies involved."

Kozie, Abendroth, and Halstead are set to appear in court in early July to be arraigned. Wheaton Police say Dam was charged with five counts of falsely impersonating a police officer.

Read more:

Suspects Who Impersonated Cops In Custody: DuPage County Sheriff