July 24--Oak Forest Alderman Chuck Toland has repaid nearly $18,000 to a youth sports organization he served as treasurer, money he said he accidentally spent, records and interviews show.
Toland cut a check for about $15,000 to the Oak Forest Raiders Football and Cheerleading organization Wednesday night, according to a police report. In an interview, Toland said he had accidentally been using the organization's credit card. When he realized his mistake, Toland said he took steps to repay the Raiders.
"I made a promise to pay the money back and I paid the money back," Toland said. "I resigned my position. The worst thing in the world would be to bring any harm to the organization that I love."
Toland, who has served as an Oak Forest alderman since 2007, called the situation an "honest mistake." He said he first realized what had happened in the spring.
Raiders President Greg James echoed Toland in an interview, saying the organization "didn't think of it as theft. It was a mistake."
The matter came to police attention in June, after Raiders athletic director Roy Pruitt called Oak Forest Police "looking for advice with a theft that had occurred within the Oak Forest Raider football organization," according to the police report.
The organization determined that Toland owed about $18,000 and came up with a plan for Toland to pay about $3,000 a month to the Raiders, police said.
Pruitt told police Toland was "approximately two weeks late with the first payment," police said.
Pruitt said the organization was primarily interested in recovering the money, not pursuing criminal charges, police said.
Earlier this month, Toland made a $2,500 payment to the Raiders before making the big payment last night, police reports show.
Toland said in an interview that he wasn't aware police had been called until a reporter contacted him about it.
"I'd never do anything to hurt the Raiders program," Toland said. "If I did, I apologize. I'll continue to support the Raider program in any way I can."
gpratt@tribpub.com
