GUILTY: Former Racine police officer charged in armed robbery has reached a plea deal

RACINE COUNTY (WITI) -- He's a former Racine police officer charged in connection with an armed robbery occurring at a Walmart store in Mount Pleasant -- and on Monday, February 2nd, he reached a plea deal in the case against him.

41-year-old Paul Garchek has pleaded guilty to a felony charge of armed robbery and a felony charge of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.

A misdemeanor charge of retail theft and a misdemeanor charge of resisting or obstructing an officer were dismissed.

Garchek will be sentenced on March 30th.

Charges were filed against Garchek back in August 2014.

Officers were dispatched to the Walmart store around 4:15 a.m. on August 22nd for a report of a man stealing a TV. When the suspect, whom authorities say was Garchek, was confronted by a store employee, he allegedly displayed a handgun. Officials say he then left the area in his vehicle with the stolen property. Nobody was hurt in the robbery.

With the cooperation of the Racine Police Department, officials say Garchek's vehicle was located a short time later. It was determined the suspect had then fled to a residence near the area of Lindeman Ave. and Lathrop Ave. in the City of Racine. At that time, officers from the Racine Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, and a Racine County Sheriff K-9 responded to the scene.

Officials say initially, Garchek refused to come out of the house. However, just before 7 a.m., he did cooperate and was taken into custody.

Garchek separated from the Racine Police Department on January 31st, 2010.

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