A Woodstock police officer has been accused of driving under the influence of alcohol after he crashed his car off the road and into a utility pole in Round Lake Beach.
The crash and arrest happened on February 11 at Hainesville Road and Clarendon Road. He was charged on February 15 with driving under the influence of alcohol and he was also cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
No injuries were reported following the crash.
The Woodstock police officer arrested has been identified as Officer Michael E. Niedzwiecki, 29, of Lake Villa. He is assigned to the police department’s patrol division.
Niedzwiecki refused to take the field sobriety tests and also refused to take a breathalyzer test at the police station according to the police report.
His eyes were bloodshot and glossy and he was slurring his words. Officers also could smell a heavy odor of alcohol from his breath.
Woodstock Police Chief John Lieb would not comment except to say that Niedzwiecki was in a car crash and had been using “allocated benefit time” since the incident and had not returned to duty as of February 20.
Lieb would not say whether Niedzwiecki would face disciplinary action while the charges are pending.
Niedzwiecki was not on duty when the crash happened.
His arraignment hearing is scheduled for March 16.