Case Number: 9653
Chiska, John - Age 48 - Sergt. of Police - Fatally shot at 9:35 AM, 4/5/28, in front of 2216 N. Lorel Ave., while in the act of making an arrest in an attempted holdup, by one of three suspects. On 4/12/28 two of the men, Stanley Walker and Joseph Papciak were booked for murder and they were held on 4/13 by the Coroner who recommended the arrest of Steve Cygan as the third man. 31 Dist. 11/26/28 Papciak to 20 years Joliet Pen. - Walker Nolle Prossed - J. Sullivan. Steve Cygon - Case reinstated 10/27/37. Judge Harington. S/O/L - Harington 11/17/37. Arrested in Jackson, Mich. & brought back 6/20/38 - case reopened. Sentenced to death 6/16/39 - Stanton 5/13/39. Electrocuted County Jail 10/13/39.
Circumstances
| Date of Offense | April 5, 1928 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | April 5, 1928 |
| Time Between Offense and Death | Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene |
| Address | 2216 N Lorell av |
| Type of Location | Street, or other non-commercial public place/alley |
| Type of Public Place | Street, sidewalk or alley |
| Location Description | in front of address |
| Type of Death | Homicide |
| Type of Homicide | Other murder, felony murder |
| Characteristics | holdup |
| Method of Killing | Other gun, gun unspecified |
| Weapon | fatally shot |
| Motive | attempted arrest following attempted holdup |
| Victim Initiated Events Leading to Homicide | No |
| Description | Police officer killed during apprehension |
| Total Number of Victims | 1 |
| Location | in front of address |
| Number of Defendants | 2 |
| Related to Organized Crime |
Victim
| Name | Chiska, John |
|---|---|
| Age | 48 years |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | White |
| Employed | Yes |
| VictimEmploymentType | Employed, professional (incl. police and military) |
| Ethnicity | Polish |
| Occupation/ Skill | Other, professional |
Defendant
| Name | Cygon, Steve |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnicity | Other, european |
| Race | White |
Police
| Precinct | 31 |
|---|---|
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Arrest Made at Crime Scene | Out of state arrest |
| Date Defendant Arrested | 20-Jun-28 |
| Time Between Crime and Arrest | Years |
| Total Number of Defendants Arrested | 3 |
| Victim Employed by Law Enforcement | Police officer on duty |
Legal
| Outcome of Coroner's Judgment | Defendant held to Grand Jury |
|---|---|
| Charges Against Defendant | No |
| Trial Judge | Stanton |
| Type of Legal Decision Recorded | Coroner, grandy jury, trials |
| Jury Verdict | Yes |
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Date of Sentence | June 16, 1939 |
| Felony Murder Classification | Robbery |
| Length of Sentence | Death penalty |
| Number of Times Case Stricken Off | 1 |
| Outcome of Grand Jury Decision | Indictment, other homicide, homicide unspecified |
| Outcome of Trial | Guilty, unspecified offense |
| Post Trial Information | Death sentence carried out |
| Sentence Completed | Yes |
