A deputy chief of the Chicago Police Department and another officer were charged with criminal damage to property Thursday for, according to a source with knowledge of the charge, allegedly slashing the tires of a vehicle in Humboldt Park during the neighborhood’s annual Puerto Rican Fest last June.

Roberto Nieves, 53, deputy chief of Area 5 on the Northwest Side, and Officer Jacob Gies, 26, turned themselves in at CPD’s Central District (1st) station Thursday, the department said in a statement. Nieves faces a single misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property while Gies faces two counts.

CPD said the charges stemmed from “an incident that occurred on June 7, 2024.” The source with knowledge of the charge said the officers slashed the tires of a civilian’s vehicle during an incident in an alley near Puerto Rican Fest.

Nieves and Gies were both stripped of their police powers Thursday, according to a CPD spokesperson. Nieves was also returned to the rank of captain. Neither could be reached for comment.

Nieves was named deputy chief of Area 5 in January 2020. He previously was the commander of CPD’s Gang Investigations Division, as well as the Rogers Park District (24th) on the North Side.

A CPD news release announcing his promotion noted Nieves holds “a high-level federal security clearance, having overseen the Department’s federal task forces as Commander of Intelligence and Gang Investigations.”

Originally Published: September 5, 2024 at 5:39 p.m.