Former East St. Louis cop changes plea, admits punching 16-year-old suspect
A veteran East St. Louis police officer changed his plea on criminal charges of official misconduct and aggravated battery in connection with the arrest of a teenager in October of 2023.
The former sergeant, Keith Randolph, 49, was charged in St. Clair County State Circuit Court with two felony counts of aggravated battery and two felony counts of official misconduct. Almost a year to the day after telling a judge he was not guilty, he changed his plea to guilty.
He was sentenced by Judge Robert Haida to two years of probation and 100 hours of community service. Randolph’s law enforcement certification through the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board was revoked.
“The charge of aggravated assault constitutes a de-certifiable misdemeanor offense under the Illinois Police Training Act,” the court plea agreement states.
Haida allowed Randoph to keep his Firearm Owners Identification – or FOID card – and to carry a gun for employment purposes.
Charging documents allege that on Oct. 16 of 2023, while Randolph had a juvenile in custody at the East St. Louis Police Department, he knowingly made physical contact “of an insulting or provoking nature” with a 16-year-old boy. It alleged he “he struck the male minor in the face with a closed fist.”
The second aggravated battery charge for Randolph is the result of his “slamming the male minor into the wall of the stairwell.”
Randolph had been employed at the East St. Louis Police Department since March 2001.
Four of the charges in the St.Clair County Criminal complaint against the former veteran East St. Louis Police officer were dropped in exchange for his guilty plea to battery and aggravated assault in a public place.
To remain compliant with the plea agreement, Randolph must fulfill all of Haida’s orders, including paying court costs and probation fees at $25 a month.
Randolph retired April 7. He is allowed to get his pension because he was not charged with a felony offense. He worked or the East St. Louis Police Department for 24 years.
This story was originally published April 14, 2025 at 11:55 AM.
