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Body camera video shows arrest of Cook County official
A Cook County elected official was arrested for drunk driving in Ravenswood earlier this month, according to Chicago police.
CHICAGO - A Cook County elected official was arrested for drunk driving in Ravenswood earlier this month, according to Chicago police.
Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele was charged with a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol after an incident on Nov. 10. Steele, 45, was arrested at 5028 N. Ashland Ave. around 8:49 p.m.
Samantha Steele
Officers responding to the scene found significant front-end damage to a Honda Accord and a Dodge Charger. Steele was lying on the sidewalk near the crash when they arrived, an arrest report states.
Steele told officers she had been driving south on Ashland Avenue when the crash occurred.
Police said they observed an open bottle of red wine on the floorboard of Steele's car, and noted her eyes appeared "bloodshot and glassy" with a "strong odor of alcoholic beverage" coming from her breath.
When asked how much she had been drinking, Steele reportedly refused to answer, stating, "I want my lawyer and I am not talking to you." She also refused a field sobriety test, police said.
Steele, who was reportedly "swaying front to back" during questioning, complained of head injuries and was taken to an area hospital, where she was later discharged.
At the hospital, police arrested her for DUI. According to the arrest report, Steele made inappropriate remarks to the arresting officer, saying, "Is your p**** really that small?"
Steele was also read her Miranda rights, but she refused to speak to the officer and against requested her attorney, who was at the hospital.
A short time later, Steele was discharged from the hospital and brought into custody for processing. Her vehicle was impounded, and she was issued a citation and a court date.
Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison called for her resignation following the incident, citing "aggressive behavior" during the arrest.
"This incident raises serious concerns about her conduct and judgment as an elected official," Morrison said in a statement. "If an elected official does not respect our dedicated police officers, then how can we expect the citizens to respect the police?"
Steele serves the Second District in northern Cook County, according to the Cook County Board of Review website.