Fugitive Ex-Chicago Cop Arrested In Detroit

DETROIT, MI — A former Chicago police sergeant wanted by the FBI after going on the run before he was to face federal drug conspiracy charges was arrested Tuesday in Detroit. Eddie C. Hicks, 68, had been eluding authorities for nearly 15 years since fleeing before his trial in June of 2003. His case had been featured on an episode of "America's Most Wanted."

According to the FBI, Hicks and four other alleged conspirators are accused of posing as DEA agents in order to steal guns and money from Chicago drug dealers and then selling what they stole to other dealers. The 29-year Chicago police veteran and his accomplices would use phony search warrants to enter dealers' stash houses and confiscate any drugs, money and valuables inside that they could sell later, splitting the profits among themselves, the FBI said.

Hicks was charged with drug and racketeering counts in 2001, and his trial was set for June 9, 2003. But he failed to appear in court, and a bench warrant for his arrest was issued. Hicks was the only member of his gang to become a fugitive, and the FBI believed he possibly fled to Brazil. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

A judge in Detroit Tuesday ordered Hicks held by authorities until he's returned to Chicago to be tried on the earlier federal charges, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Eddie C. Hicks, 68 (Photo via FBI)

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