Does Video Catch Cop in a Lie?
Video shows no staggering, swaying
Officer Joe Parker is one of three Chicago cops whose prolific DUI-busting has now come under scrutiny.
The video from top DUI cop Joe D. Parker's squad car shows a man walking a straight line, without stumbling or flailing his arms.
But Parker, a Chicago Police officer who has won acclaim for being among the leading DUI enforcers in the state, told a different story in his police report.
He wrote that Raymond L. Bell lost his balance and used his arms to steady himself. And he arrested the 33-year-old Oak Lawn man on charges of driving under the influence, speeding and negligent driving.
Now, after reviewing the squad-car video, Cook County prosecutors have dropped the July 2008 charges against Bell.
And they're considering filing criminal charges against the 59-year-old Parker, who is one of three Chicago cops whose prolific DUI-busting has now come under scrutiny. Dozens of DUI arrests by Parker alone are under review, sources say.
Last year, prosecutors dropped more than 50 cases after accusing Chicago officer John Haleas of perjury. He had been honored as one of the top DUI enforces in the state.
The perjury case against Haleas is still pending. He has said he is not guilty.
Last month, two men filed separate lawsuits with the city, accusing Town Hall District Officer Richard Fiorito of violating their civil rights and manufacturing fake DUI and other traffic charges.
Copyright SunTimes
Posted Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 - 7:39 AM CST
