Lawsuit Filed in Death of Teen During Armed Robbery
By: Scott Picken
Updated: September 28, 2012
CHICAGO - A civil lawsuit has
been filed in federal court by the family of 16 year-old Michael DeAngelo Sago,
Jr. against the off-duty Winnebago County Sheriff's Deputy who shot and killed
him during an armed robbery attempt at a Rockford pizzeria. The lawsuit
alleges that Deputy Frank Pobjecky violated Sago's civil rights through the use
of excessive force, failing to provide medical care, and not calling for paramedics
in a timely fashion, among other things. Winnebago County Sheriff Richard
Meyers and Winnebago County are also named in the lawsuit.
It arises from an attempted
armed robbery at Marie's Pizza in Rockford in October of 2011. Sago and three young adults reportedly
stormed the pizzeria and threatened employees with a gun. Pobjecky
happened to be in the pizzeria at the time, grabbed the owner's gun, and shot
all four robbers, killing Sabo as he tried to flee from the scene. The lawsuit alleges Pobjecky shot the unarmed
teenager three times in the back and then did nothing to assist him as he lay
bleeding to death in the parking lot.
Pobjecky was later cleared of
any wrongdoing by a Winnebago County grand jury and cited by Sheriff Meyers for
his actions. In a statement weeks after
the shooting, the Sheriff said, "This was a real time, dynamic situation in which Deputy Pobjecky
was in fear of his life and the lives of others in the business at the time of
this robbery. It is our opinion that there was no opportunity for Deputy
Pobjecky to react differently or use any other alternative action based upon
the actions of the four suspects."
Sabo's family does not
deny the teen was involved in the armed robbery, but claim he was unarmed and
fleeing the scene, and did not deserve to die. Their
attorney says, "Were it not for the gross misconduct of Frank Pobjecky, Michael
Sago, Jr. would be alive today. Michael
was an unarmed minor who was running from the scene. He was a 16-year-old
who was shot in the back not once, but three times even though he did not
present a threat to Pobjecky." He goes
further to say that Sheriff Meyers' statements are "sending the unmistakable
message to Sheriff's Deputies that shooting unarmed teenagers in the back is a
proper act" which could encourage future abuses when it comes to police use of
deadly force.
The six-count lawsuit seeks
unspecified damages.
