Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Chicago police officer indicted for falsifying information

UPDATE on Officer John Haleas

Cook County prosecutors say a Chicago police officer accused of falsifying information in drunken driving arrests ignored numerous critical steps in making a legitimate drunken driving arrest in April 2005.

Court documents filed Tuesday revealed the man arrested by Officer John Haleas registered a blood-alcohol content of 0.334. That is a level of intoxication at which people can lose consciousness or, in some cases, die. The man's DUI conviction was tossed out because of Haleas' misconduct.

Prosecutors say the missteps by Haleas ultimately led to his own indictment and the dismissal of 156 of his previous DUI arrests.

Haleas had been honored for making more DUI arrests than any other police officer in Illinois. The 12-year veteran is charged with perjury, official misconduct and obstruction of justice.

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