Sentenced: Former Racine police officer to serve time in prison for Walmart armed robbery

RACINE COUNTY (WITI) -- A former Racine police officer charged in an armed robbery that occurred at a Walmart store in Mount Pleasant has been sentenced in the case against him.

Paul Garchek

42-year-old Paul Garchek is charged in two separate cases.

The first charges him with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud and resisting or obstructing an officer. The second charges him with retail theft - removing an anti-theft device and armed robbery.

In court on Monday, March 30th, Garchek was sentenced to a total of four years in prison and four years extended supervision.

Garchek pleaded guilty to the obtaining a controlled substance by fraud charge, and the armed robbery charge. The other charges were dismissed.

Charges were filed against Garchek back in August 2014.

Officers were dispatched to the Walmart store around 4:15 a.m. on August 22nd, 2014 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.