Staffer: Peck Gave Order to Hold PSA Equipment for ‘Ransom’

The case of the missing soccer equipment is closed, but police weren’t able to figure out what happened to 15 to 20 bags of Plainfield Soccer Association (PSA) equipment.

According to police reports obtained by Patch, the equipment — worth an estimated $1,650 to $2,200 — was reported missing by PSA president Rob Ayres on March 18.

That was the same day staff at the youth sports league discovered that locks had been cut off a PSA-maintained shed at Renwick Park, 24550 Renwick Rd., and replaced with new locks.

• Plainfield Soccer Assoc.: Equipment Missing from Shed on Park District Property

Police reports show that park district staffers interviewed by investigators said they were told to remove the locks on the shed by then-Interim Executive Director Gene Coldwater. Coldwater has since gone back to his previous position of superintendent of parks.

For his part, Coldwater told police he did not remember telling employees to remove the locks, but said if he did, the order would have come from former Executive Director Garrett Peck, who resigned in January.

PSA staff said the last time the shed was inventoried was November 2013, adding the alleged theft could have happened any time between then and March 2014. 

‘Tension’ between PSA, park district

In a report dated April 4, Det. Matt Lehmann said PSA officials told him that PSA-owned soccer goals and field boxes containing miscellaneous equipment were also missing from park district fields.

“Members … spoke of difficulty in dealing with the PPD over the past year, with conditions of field usage, changing of terms and in general ‘things not running as smooth as normal,’” Lehmann wrote. “… It should be noted all PSA members spoke of rising tensions/problems between PSA and the PPD over the past eight months to a year, none of which were present in the past. All PSA members believed the PPD was behind the cut locks and missing bags from the shed.”

Staff: Equipment held for ‘ransom’ 

Police spoke with Coldwater, who, according to reports, said he did not recall telling staff to cut the locks, but noted that the previous eight months had been "turbulent" under the direction of then-board president Peter Hurtado and former executive director Peck and that his memory of the time was a “blur.”

The report continues, “Coldwater thought [park district employee Joe] Masters told him Garrett Peck ordered Masters to have the locks removed. Masters then passed the order to PPD employee Dale Thomas, who in turn removed the PSA locks and replaced [them] with a PPD lock.”

Coldwater also told police that he received direct orders from Peck to remove the field boxes and goals from park district property and lock them up.

“Peck indicated to Coldwater the PSA was behind in payments and the PPD would hold those items as ‘ransom,’” the April 4 report reads. Coldwater told police the field boxes and goals were being stored at a park district building and would be returned.

According to police reports, in another conversation with police, Coldwater “again advised of the turmoil at the PPD and advised his memory was blurry," saying he didn’t remember giving the order to cut the PSA locks, “but stated he probably did and just did not remember. Coldwater further advised if he did give the order, it would have come from Peck.”

Lehmann said he asked Ayers if he was aware of any outstanding bills owed by PSA to the park district, and Ayers said he was not aware of any current bills.

Also in the April 4 report, police said Masters claimed he heard the order to change the locks from Coldwater “although assumed (based on PPD chain of command) it probably came from Peck.”

Park district staff told police the locks were cut off and replaced by park district locks, saying they had no knowledge of the whereabouts of the allegedly missing equipment.

Police meet with Peck

The reports note that Lehmann met with Peck more than a month after the equipment was reported missing.

During the April 30 meeting at Peck’s home, detectives told Peck they had spoken with park district staff who were given the order to remove the locks.

“Peck asked if ‘that was illegal’ (meaning the cutting of the locks),” Lehmann wrote in the report. “I advised Peck we were more interested in locating the stolen equipment.”

According to the report, Peck told police he did not remember giving an order to cut the locks.

“Peck spoke further about an ongoing battle between PSA and PPD over unpaid bills,” and said he did instruct employees to remove the soccer goals and store them in lieu of payment, the report noted.

Police said Peck questioned whether the equipment was really stolen, and asked if PSA had receipts to prove it was ever purchased. He said he did not know the whereabouts of the missing equipment, the report said. 

Case closed

Police reports said 15 to 20 bags were allegedly missing, each containing three soccer balls, one medical kit, two goalie bibs and eight cones.

On April 9, Lehmann wrote that Coldwater met with detectives to search for the missing equipment at the Normantown Equestrian Center, Eaton Preserve, Four Seasons Park, Clow-Stephens Park, Mather Woods, Van Horn Woods and Gregory Bott Park. The searches failed to turn up the missing equipment.

On May 6, Lehmann said after talking to Peck, he attempted to contact then-board president Hurtado.

“The phone went directly to voicemail, without ringing,” he wrote. “I left a message for Hurtado requesting a call back,” but added he did not get a return phone call.

During a second attempt, “Hurtado’s phone rang with no voicemail activation. I was unable to leave a message,” Lehmann wrote.

The report says that the case was closed administratively on May 6, but could be reopened if future leads develop.

In an email to Patch, Hurtado, who is still on the board, said he did return the detective’s call, and leave a voicemail. He did not comment on the missing equipment.

This week, PSA president Ayers confirmed that the case was closed, and PSA never did locate the missing equipment.

Related:

• Plainfield Park District Soccer Program Facilitator Out