A former Rockford Police officer and a former Rockford Metro Security officer have been charged in an armed robbery that took place at the Van Galder bus terminal on July 22nd.

Winnebago County State’s Attorney Joe Bruscato and Rockford Police Chief Dan O’ Shea announced charges against Yulia Kuznets, 37, formerly of the Rockford Police, and James Akerman, 50, formerly of Rockford Metro Security.

On July 22nd, a woman at the Rockford Van Galder bus terminal at 7559 Walton Street said she was approached by two people wearing black, who pointed a gun at her and demanded money.

Chief O’Shea said that a gun was discharged during the incident.

Kuznets served with the Rockford Police Department from 2005 – 2013, and was fired from the police department in May of 2013 “for cause,” according to O’Shea.

On Friday, July 27th, police executed a search warrant at a home around 6:30 a.m., officers arrived to the residence on Myott Avenue, between Auburn Street and N. Main Street, to serve a search warrant, with the assistance of a SWAT team was called in out of precaution.

A cache of weapons and drugs were recovered from the residence, including 1000 rounds of ammunition and 6 guns, Hydrocodone, morphine, and Percocet, worth a street value of $65,000.

Kuznets and Akerman are being held at the Winnebago County Jail, each on a $750,000 bond.