Latest news with #CrestwoodPoliceDepartment
CBS News
17-04-2025
- CBS News
Why was Crestwood, Illinois police officer with troubled history allowed to resign after DUI?
A Crestwood, Illinois police officer recently charged with his second DUI has a troubled history in many other respects. CBS News Chicago obtained personnel files for Crestwood police Officer Christopher Spencer, who has since resigned from his department. The files show issues involving the mistreatment of women and a state fraud investigation — as well as the two drunken driving incidents. Spencer, 49, was arrested by Midlothian police Monday, March 31, after allegedly being involved in two incidents less than an hour apart. Midlothian police said he was first involved in a hit-and-run crash in the parking lot of a White Castle on South Cicero Avenue. Then, about 40 minutes later, police said he crashed his car into a home's garage in the 15100 block of South Kostner Avenue. Police said the homeowner told officers the driver was drinking from a bottle of liquor as he sat in the car. Midlothian police were confused when they caught up to Spencer at the second crash site. They said Spencer appeared impaired and refused a breathalyzer, and video shows him claiming a bottle of blackberry Crown Royal in the car was not his. But Spencer's personnel file outlines some concerns about other conduct beyond that, and also about why he was allowed to resign when the file shows he should have been terminated. The drunken driving arrest last month was Spencer's second. On Jan. 12, 2022, his blood alcohol was three times the legal limit when he drove his red Ford through someone's lawn. An empty bottle of Fireball whiskey in the cab of the Ford. Spencer spent a year under court supervision for that arrest. The 2022 DUI was listed as the top reason for a Last Chance Agreement filed in Spencer's personnel file with the Crestwood Police Department. But the disciplinary form outlines other allegations. They included: The form required a 15-day suspension from Crestwood PD and workplace sensitivity training, adding any future violations would result in immediate termination. But Spencer instead resigned from the department following his recent arrest. Spencer's case file also includes multiple commendations from a drunk driving prevention organization.
CBS News
03-04-2025
- CBS News
Crestwood, Illinois police officer resigns after latest drunk driving charges
A Crestwood, Illinois police officer facing his second set of DUI charges in three years has resigned from the police department, officials said. The Crestwood Police Department released a statement Thursday morning saying Christopher Spencer submitted his resignation to the department before returning to duty and is no longer employed by the village. Spencer, 49, was arrested by Midlothian police Monday, after allegedly being involved in two incidents less than an hour apart. Midlothian police said he was first involved in a hit-and-run crash in the parking lot of a White Castle on South Cicero Avenue. Then, about 40 minutes later, police said he crashed his car into a home's garage in the 15100 block of South Kostner Avenue. Police said the homeowner told officers the driver was drinking from a bottle of liquor as he sat in the car. The department said in their statement announcing his resignation that Spencer had been off-duty at the time of those incidents. Spencer, an 18-year veteran of the Crestwood Police Department, had previously been in trouble for a suspect or confirmed DUI in 2022 when he drove his red Ford F-350 over someone's lawn. His blood alcohol content was found to be .274 in that incident, three times the legal limit. Spencer spent a year under court supervision following that arrest. Please note: The above video is from a previous report
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
Trucking company CEO found murdered in burning building in Crestwood
CRESTWOOD, Ill. — The CEO and president of a trucking company was found murdered inside a burning building in Crestwood. According to police, authorities responded last Wednesday to a call of heavy smoke at ATG Truckload, Inc, located at 13835 South Kostner Avenue. As firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, the body of 46-year-old Dane Koteski was located on the second-floor of the building. According to the company's website, he was the CEO and President of ATG Truckload. A death and arson investigation was initiated by the Crestwood Police Department, the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force and the State Fire Marshalls. After several hours, investigators were able to identify a suspect, who was an employee of Koteski, according to police. The crime was deemed to be an isolated incident that specifically targeted the victim. An autopsy determined Koteski's cause of death to be homicide, resulting from injuries to the victim's neck that were caused by a sharp or pointed object. Police said the suspect was arrested at a truck stop in Holland, Michigan on Friday. The suspect is in custody of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office in Michigan on a murder warrant. The Crestwood Police Department and the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, in cooperation with Cook County State's Attorney's office, are continuing the investigation as they await extradition of the suspect back to Illinois. A GoFundMe Fundraiser has been created by friends to cover Koteski's funeral expenses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
