A Cook County Board of Review Commissioner was discovered lying on the ground following a vehicle collision in Chicago, leading to her arrest on drunk driving charges.
According to Fox News, Democratic Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele, 45, was charged with driving under the influence after she admitted to causing a collision that resulted in extensive damage to two vehicles on Sunday evening.
The incident occurred around 8:50 p.m. when police found Steele beside the damaged vehicles. Officers at the scene noted her bloodshot, glassy eyes and detected a strong alcoholic odor on her breath. An open bottle of red wine was discovered on the floor of her vehicle, adding to the evidence of intoxication.
The commissioner's encounter with law enforcement took an unusual turn when she repeatedly directed inappropriate comments about an officer's anatomy during her arrest.
After being handcuffed, Steele complained of head injuries, prompting authorities to transport her to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation.
During the investigation, Steele demonstrated uncooperative behavior by refusing to participate in sobriety tests. When questioned about her alcohol consumption prior to the crash, she immediately requested legal representation instead of providing an answer.
The responding officer documented Steele's condition in the police report, stating:
I observed her eyes were bloodshot and glassy. I also detected a strong odor of [an] alcoholic beverage coming from her breath as she spoke.
At the hospital, Steele attempted to secure legal representation through unconventional means by requesting another Cook County Board Commissioner's presence. She specifically asked for Scott Britton to serve as her legal counsel, but he declined and referred her to a criminal attorney due to his different legal specialization.
The incident has raised questions about the commissioner's judgment and professional conduct. As an elected official representing much of Chicago's North Side and its northern suburbs, Steele's behavior during the arrest has attracted significant public attention.
The case has been scheduled for its initial court appearance, with Steele expected to face the misdemeanor DUI charge on December 27. Attempts to reach the commissioner for comment regarding the incident have been unsuccessful.
Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele, who was first elected to her position in 2022, now faces serious legal consequences following the Sunday night incident.
The events began with a collision that left two vehicles with substantial damage and ended with her arrest under charges of driving under the influence.
The commissioner's behavior during the arrest, particularly her crude remarks to the arresting officer and refusal to comply with sobriety testing has become a focal point of the incident. These actions, combined with the physical evidence at the scene, including the open wine bottle, led to her arrest and subsequent medical examination.
