A federal judge Friday ordered a Chicago police officer charged in a sports gambling case to turn himself in to the federal jail downtown after prosecutors said he “violently assaulted his girlfriend” last weekend.
Nicholas Stella was among 10 people charged in the gambling case last year. Also among them was Casey Urlacher, mayor of north suburban Mettawa and brother of Chicago Bears great Brian Urlacher. In the final hours of his presidency Tuesday, Donald Trump pardoned Casey Urlacher.
But Stella still faces charges in the case. And U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall gave him until 3 p.m. Friday to surrender to the Metropolitan Correctional Center. She also set an evidentiary hearing for Tuesday morning.
Stella’s defense attorney did not respond to messages seeking comment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Terry Kinney wrote in a court filing Thursday that Stella’s girlfriend reported “that he tried to kill her, attempted to strangle her, hit her in the face, tore her blouse and stole her phone so she could not call 911, and then dragged her down the hallway before finally releasing her and fleeing.”
A spokesman for the Rosemont Public Safety Department confirmed the incident took place at a Crowne Plaza hotel in the northwest suburb.
A hotel guest called the front desk to report something “horrible” was happening, Kinney wrote. And though Stella’s girlfriend apparently called 911, Kinney wrote that she has since decided not to pursue charges.
“However, Stella has a history of violence against his domestic partner,” Kinney wrote, adding that she “doubtless fears retribution were she to bring charges.” He also wrote that Stella did not turn himself in when he knew police were looking for him.
A Chicago police spokesman Thursday said that Stella’s status with CPD was “inactive.”
