Samantha Steele's DUI arrest, Cook County politician told Chicago cops, ‘I’m an elected official.’
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Newly released body camera videos show the arrest of a Cook County elected official who was charged with drunk driving after she allegedly crashed her car on the North Side two weeks ago.
45-year-old Samantha Steele, who is one of three commissioners on the Cook County Board of Review, has been charged with one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Steele was taken into custody just before 9 p.m. on Sunday, Nov., 10, in the 5000 block of North Ashland Avenue, after officers were called to the scene on a report of a traffic crash in the area.
According to the arrest report, after officers located two damaged cars in the area, they found Steele lying on the ground. Officers said she then allegedly told police that she had been driving southbound along Ashland when she struck another car.
While on the scene, officers allegedly spotted an open bottle of red wine on the passenger side floorboard. Another officer said they also observed that Steele’s eyes were bloodshot and detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from her breath.
The arrest report indicates that when an officer asked Steele how much she had to drink, she responded by saying, “I want my lawyer, and I am not talking to you.”
Officers said when asked to perform a field sobriety test, Steele refused and was spotted swaying back and forth during her initial interview with police.
While speaking with police, officers said Steele began complaining about head injuries. She was taken to the hospital, where she was taken into custody for DUI after her discharge.
According to the arrest report, while an officer was reading Steele a Warning to a Motorist, she allegedly began repeatedly asking the officer “Is your p**** that small?”
After Steele was discharged from the hospital, she was taken back to the 20th district for processing. She was then issued her citation and given a court date.
Following her arrest, Sean Morrison, Cook County commissioner from the 17th district and the chair of the Cook County Republican Party, called on Steele to resign.
Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele was recently arrested for DUI after an alarming incident in Chicago. Reports indicate Steele struck multiple cars. Upon her arrest at the scene, Steele allegedly exhibited aggressive behavior towards the responding police officer, making sexually derogatory remarks, and continued this belligerent behavior throughout the arrest and booking process.
This incident raises serious concerns about her conduct and judgment as an elected official. If an elected official does not respect our dedicated police officers, then how can we expect the citizens to respect the police? Given the severity of the incident and the blatant disrespect shown towards law enforcement, it is in the public interest that Commissioner Samantha Steele resign her position on the Cook County Board of Review to restore public trust and accountability,” Morrison said in a statement.
Steele, who represents the Second District on the Board of Review, is a Bridgeport resident who now lives in Evanston.
That board reviews property assessments and considers taxpayers’ appeals.