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Paralyzed Chicago Cop Says He's Being Evicted From Apartment City Pays For

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Chicago police officer who was left paralyzed after a crash in his patrol vehicle six years ago has been served with eviction papers at the apartment the city has been paying for.

Densey Cole II was driving his police SUV, responding to a burglary call, when he crashed at the intersection of 98th and Halsted streets in May 2009.

His neck broken, and unable to move, Cole could only watch as an onlooker, Rasaan Shannon, approached, called him a pig, and threatened to kill him.

"I couldn't even move my head," Cole said. "He rolled me around. He unbuckled me out of the seat, and pushed me over."

But Shannon didn't kill Cole. Instead, he stole the officer's gun and wallet, jumped into his own car nearby, and fled the scene.

"I guess it was really surreal. You know, you run through the whole gamut. 'No, no, no. Please, please. I'm hurt, and then I was telling him I have kids,'" Cole recalled.

Left a quadriplegic, Cole has been living in an apartment in west suburban Oakbrook Terrace. The city of Chicago, the leaseholder, was paying the utilities as well but stopped, leaving $20,000 in unpaid bills. The city says the utilities are Cole's responsibility.

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"They've made me feel like I'm an afterthought. Out of sight is out of mind. They don't even want to negotiate. They won't even discuss or talk about anything. There are no rules," he said.

Cole says because the city of Chicago is named as the apartment's lessee and the lease includes utilities.

But a spokesperson for Alderman Ed Burke, the head of the Finance Committee, says the city told Cole he'd have to pay utilities. Cole acknowledges he even received a notice last year telling him so, but never understood why.

Cole said he called the city and told them he wouldn't pay the utilities.

Cole said the city promised to outfit his old home in Beverly to accommodate his disability, then said it was going to build him a new home.

"I never expected the city to literally build me a million-dollar mansion somewhere, and have a butler, and live like that, but I certainly didn't think that they were going to hang me out to dry like this," he said.

He said he expects he'll be able to buy more time in court next week, but he doesn't feel the city has his back.

"I went to work, I was healthy, and now this is how I am. They have, in my opinion, a legal obligation to do the things that would make my life as close to normalcy before. Why should I have to lose any of my civil liberties, because I got injured? It's wrong. It's just flat-out wrong," he said.

The City Finance Committee issued a statement in response saying, "Officer Cole is living every day with a devastating injury that has forever changed his life. We have great respect and sympathy for him and we have consistently acted to remain very flexible in numerous instances given the circumstances of his case.

Since 2009, the Finance Committee has paid more than $5.8 million for his medical care resulting from this devastating injury and made sure that Officer Cole's housing accommodations are completely handicapped accessible.

The Committee on Finance has routinely paid his rent six months in advance and remains current in those payments while he seeks a permanent home.

The non-paid bills in question relate solely to unpaid utility bills which the Committe has advised are his responsibility. Officer Cole has yet to act to request arbitration or meditation of this dispute which is his right under the police contract. We would welcome a decision on his part to avail himself of this process so that these questions may be resolved."

FOP President Dean Angelo issued a statement saying, "Shortly after coming into office as FOP President, I had an opportunity to personally get involved with a situation concerning Densey; which we eventually got resolved. I continue to offer myself and the Lodge as conduits for anything Densey needs. I spoke with Densey yesterday and with his mother the day prior. The Fraternal Order of Police, along with the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation continue to support Densey Cole, as we support our other catastrophically injured Officers. It is everyone's hope that the city and Densey can quickly agree on finding a permanent home for Densey. We look forward to an outcome that secures everything Densey deserves."

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