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A former University of Illinois quarterback who later became a Chicago police officer is facing allegations of shoplifting baseball cards from a suburban store.

Christopher Pazan, 41, was arrested Wednesday afternoon after he allegedly tried to make off with about $300 worth of baseball cards from the Meijer store on South Western Avenue in Evergreen Park. According to Sgt. Victor Watts of the Evergreen Park Police, a security guard spotted Pazan on video slipping the cards into a yard waste bag. He paid for the bag but left without paying for the cards, authorities said.

Pazan, who joined the Chicago Police Department in 2015, has been stripped of his police powers pending an internal investigation, according to a department spokesperson. Prior to his arrest, he was assigned to the Morgan Park District and detailed to the central investigations division, which handles cases like arson, financial crimes, major crashes, and vehicle theft.

Efforts to reach Pazan’s attorney were unsuccessful. He also couldn’t be reached for comment.

Before his law enforcement career, Pazan was a standout quarterback at Brother Rice High School in Mount Greenwood, where he earned All-American honors. He went on to play for the University of Illinois, starting a few games during his college career, according to his university biography. He later worked as a coach at Illinois and St. Joseph’s College before switching careers to policing.

In a 2015 interview with the Chicago Tribune, Pazan explained his decision to become a cop, saying he “wanted something more; to do something more and to serve in a different capacity.” He also played for the Chicago Enforcers, a team made up of law enforcement officers who compete in a police football league.

Pazan earns a salary of $111,804, not including overtime, according to city records. However, recent court documents reveal he’s had financial troubles. He’s going through a divorce and was expected to appear at a court hearing on the same day as his arrest. His former lawyer, Tania K. Harvey, has asked a judge to order Pazan to pay her firm more than $5,800 in unpaid fees.

His current legal team says he’s refinancing his home in Beverly to pay for legal expenses and a settlement.

Financial records show Pazan’s money issues aren’t new. Last year, Fifth Third Bank tried to collect over $4,000 he owed on a loan, but the case was dismissed when the bank couldn’t locate him. In 2022, JPMorgan Chase sued him for more than $15,000. He reached a settlement and paid it off by mid-2024.

According to city hiring guidelines, applicants with significant debt can be barred from joining the police academy. The screening aims to keep out recruits who might be vulnerable to corruption or financial pressure.

Pazan is charged with a misdemeanor count of retail theft. His first court date is scheduled for June 23 in Bridgeview.