Local Man Wins Third 'Fake Cop' Case in Courtroom Showdown
Robert Ellis, a 67-year-old man from Englewood, has emerged victorious in his third case accusing him of impersonating a police officer. This latest win marks another milestone for the amateur lawyer who represents himself as a "pro se litigant."
Ellis was first charged with felony impersonation in 2018 after Chicago cops stopped him on the South Side for an expired temporary license plate. They found a laminated ID card from the Pembroke Township Police Department, but the agency itself did not exist. Despite this, Ellis was arrested and sentenced to time served.
However, the case took a dramatic turn when Ellis' car was spotted parked near the White Sox stadium in 2021. He claimed he was a police commissioner for Pembroke Township, despite having no formal training or credentials. After months of trial, Judge Carol Howard acquitted him of impersonating a police officer.
Ellis' latest win came on Friday when he successfully defended himself against charges that he misrepresented himself as a police officer while trying to obtain new license plates for his car. According to Ellis, the state's impersonation law should only apply to underlying crimes like robbery or financial fraud – not simply representing oneself as a police officer.
Ellis cited this case as an example of "free speech" and "unconstitutional." He expressed frustration that he was jailed for 3-1/2 months and missed his first daughter's birthday, all for what he called an "absurd" charge. Ellis plans to file a wrongful arrest lawsuit against police and prosecutors.
When asked about the outcome, Ellis said: "You can thank me by staying out of trouble." He added that he needs money from the potential lawsuit.
Robert Ellis, a 67-year-old man from Englewood, has emerged victorious in his third case accusing him of impersonating a police officer. This latest win marks another milestone for the amateur lawyer who represents himself as a "pro se litigant."
Ellis was first charged with felony impersonation in 2018 after Chicago cops stopped him on the South Side for an expired temporary license plate. They found a laminated ID card from the Pembroke Township Police Department, but the agency itself did not exist. Despite this, Ellis was arrested and sentenced to time served.
However, the case took a dramatic turn when Ellis' car was spotted parked near the White Sox stadium in 2021. He claimed he was a police commissioner for Pembroke Township, despite having no formal training or credentials. After months of trial, Judge Carol Howard acquitted him of impersonating a police officer.
Ellis' latest win came on Friday when he successfully defended himself against charges that he misrepresented himself as a police officer while trying to obtain new license plates for his car. According to Ellis, the state's impersonation law should only apply to underlying crimes like robbery or financial fraud – not simply representing oneself as a police officer.
Ellis cited this case as an example of "free speech" and "unconstitutional." He expressed frustration that he was jailed for 3-1/2 months and missed his first daughter's birthday, all for what he called an "absurd" charge. Ellis plans to file a wrongful arrest lawsuit against police and prosecutors.
When asked about the outcome, Ellis said: "You can thank me by staying out of trouble." He added that he needs money from the potential lawsuit.
. I can imagine how frustrating it must be to have a case like this happen and to feel like you've been wrongly accused 
. Winning your third case is definitely a huge relief, but I know it's not enough to make up for the emotional toll these experiences can take on you 
.
. I hope you're taking care of yourself during this time and not feeling too overwhelmed 
. If you need someone to talk to or just need some company, I'm here for you 
.
just another example of how the system is flawed, man... this guy's been through 3 cases and still manages to win 'em all, which says something about the way the law's applied to him. but at the same time, you gotta wonder if he's being totally honest or just taking advantage of a system that's already kinda broken... either way, it's wild that this is even an issue in the first place 
This guy is like the ultimate David vs Goliath story, and his determination is totally inspiring 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to challenge the system when they feel it's unfair? 
He's got a point about the state's impersonation law being kinda vague – shouldn't people have freedom of speech to represent themselves however they want? 
Plus, 3-1/2 months in jail is way too long for something that's basically just a case of mistaken identity 
. I'm rooting for Ellis all the way! #FreeSpeechMatters #JusticeForRobertEllis #AmateurLawyerGoals
i get where ellis is coming from tho - shouldn't we be free to express ourselves and represent ourselves in a more literal sense? i mean, how can you even arrest someone for saying they're a cop when it's not hurting anyone? 
still gotta wonder how he gets away with this stuff tho - does he have some sweet lawyer skills or is he just super lucky? 
anyway gotta hand it to him, he's definitely got some guts going up against the system like that... maybe next stop is the supreme court 
I gotta say, this guy's got some nerve 
You can't just make that stuff up and expect it to fly. I'm all for free speech and whatnot, but when you're impersonating someone in authority like that, you gotta be prepared for the consequences 
.
! He missed his daughter's birthday and he's already got a new case lined up to sue the police and prosecutors. I just don't get why he can't see that this whole thing is a mess 
. But hey, to each their own!
and i have to feel for him, missed that birthday with his first daughter... 3.5 months in jail is a wild stretch though 
i mean, who represents themselves in court? only in America, right? 
.
.
. Just don't expect me to start impersonating a cop anytime soon 
!
His assertion that the state's impersonation law should only apply to underlying crimes like robbery or financial fraud highlights an important distinction between free speech and criminal behavior.
like, this dude rep's himself as a pro se litigant and is totally owning it! 
he thinks the state's impersonation law is too broad and only applies to like, actual crimes not just representing himself in everyday life. 
Ellis was literally missing his daughter's birthday while he was incarcerated. how can that even be?! 
he's basically a one man law firm and it's wild that he won again 
. And that "staying out of trouble" comment had me dying 
!
3 cases in court, 3 times being wrongly accused 
it's like, dude you just wanna drive down the street without some cop stopping u, right? 
his argument about free speech kinda makes sense tho... i mean, shouldn't he be able to represent himself as a cop if that's what he wants 2 do? 
he's like the ultimate David vs Goliath story. And I love how he's already planning his next move - a wrongful arrest lawsuit 
can't wait to see what happens next! 
. I mean, if you're just trying to get new license plates, shouldn't that be a thing? 
. Good for him for standing up for himself and seeking justice 
. Not everyone has the means or confidence to take on the system like this, so kudos to Robert Ellis for being an example of determination and perseverance