Metra Official Allegedly Tried to Shake Down Source Code Production for Cash

By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 14, 2011 2:00PM

Metra is investigating allegations from a movie production supervisor that a now-retired official with the transit agency allegedly demanded money from her in exchange for facilitating the usage of Metra stations during filming of the movie Source Code.

According to the production supervisor (who asked to not be identified out of concerns the allegations could harm her career), the also-unnamed Metra official — not named because he hasn't been charged with a crime — demanded an envelope of cash "to cover the cost of his time." The Metra official's job was to help facilitate local moviemaking efforts:

"He said in a demanding, almost bullying tone, 'Now for all the hard work I've done I expect you to bring an envelope with two grand … Do you understand?'" she recalled. He wanted the money handed over at an Orland Park Metra station where scenes were being shot, she said.

The woman said she refused to pay the money. When the official was told he wouldn't get the cash, he allegedly told her she "would never do business with (Metra) again," the supervisor told the Tribune.

The matter has been turned over to Metra's Inspector General, the security firm Hillard Heintze LLC. It's another dose of bad publicity for Metra, which is trying to put behind the improprieties of late chief Phil Pagano behind it.