A Mundelein village trustee was arrested after allegedly driving under the influence and causing a crash in Libertyville where she was caught on video asking a responding officer, “Why are you doing this to me?”
The Libertyville Police Department responded around 2:50 p.m. on September 3 to the area of Park Avenue and Dymond Road for a report of a vehicle crash.
A police report obtained this month by Lake and McHenry County Scanner said that responding officers were informed that one of the drivers involved was possibly attempting to leave and the female driver was intoxicated.
Officers arrived and found a two-vehicle crash involving a white 2019 Alfa Romeo sedan and a black 2012 Ford four-door.
Officers spoke with the driver of the Alfa Romeo, identified as Jennifer M. Grieco, 47, of Mundelein.
The report said an officer noticed Grieco had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath.
She appeared to be slurring her words, was unsteady while standing and had bloodshot, glossy eyes, the report said.
Grieco’s vehicle had extensive front-end damage and the other vehicle had extensive rear-end damage.
She claimed the other driver pulled in front of her car and hit the front of her vehicle with the rear of his vehicle.
The other driver involved told officers he was stopped westbound on Park Avenue east of Dymond Road in traffic when Grieco rear-ended his vehicle, the report said. No injuries were reported.
Bodycam video obtained showed Grieco telling officers she had not been drinking before being administered the “horizontal gaze nystagmus” test and the “walk and turn” test.
The video and police report showed Grieco struggled to complete both tests.
After exhibiting confusion and being unable to complete the walk and turn test, Grieco appeared flustered with the officer and said, “You can’t make me do this in flip flops,” but declined the officer’s offer to do the test without her sandals on.
She then pulled out her phone and said she was going to call an attorney.
Officers immediately arrested her for driving under the influence based on her performance on the tests and her decision not to finish them, the report said.
Grieco could be heard on video telling the officers, “stop, stop” as they handcuffed her. After she was handcuffed, she asked the officer, “Why are you doing this to me?”
Grieco said, “I was probably under the influence hours and hour and hours ago” as she was being placed into the squad car, the report said.
Grieco refused to provide a breath sample for testing and her driver’s license was seized. Her car was also towed from the scene.
She was processed at the police department before being released with a future court date.
Grieco, who is a board trustee with the Village of Mundelein, was charged with a Class A misdemeanor for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Mundelein Village Administrator Eric Guenther said in a statement that the village was informed of her arrest and the incident occurred outside of Mundelein and in Grieco’s “private capacity, not in connection with Village business.”
“While the Village recognizes the seriousness of the situation and the concerns it raises, the matter is a personal legal issue in which the Village is not involved,” Guenther said.
“Accordingly, the Village will have no further comment at this time. The Village Board and administration remain committed to carrying out Village business in a professional, responsible manner worthy of our residents’ trust,” he added.
Court records show Grieco is scheduled to appear in court again on December 12 for a hearing on a petition to rescind her summary suspension of her license.