A former Illinois police chief accused of drunk driving and inflicting an accident tore into cops in a profanity-laced tirade as he resisted arrest and was forcefully taken into custody, wild bodycam footage reveals.
Former Bridgeview Chief of Police Walter Klimek was captured on digicam hollering and hurling obscenities at members of the Justice Police Division earlier than he was dragged out of his automobile by a number of cops through the drunken kerfuffle on Dec. 27, 2024, in line with footage obtained by The Publish.
“Come on, let me go!” a hostile Klimek repeatedly yelled at cops within the driver’s seat of his airbag-deployed Buick whereas honking his horn, the footage reveals.
“What the f–okay is that this all about?”
Police responded to the scene following a high-speed crash during which Klimek allegedly struck a guard rail, spun out after which slammed into one other automobile, injuring a passenger who was later hospitalized, in line with police, who described the inebriated suspect as hostile and uncooperative.
The footage reveals officers surrounding Klimek’s automobile and inspiring “Wally” to get out of the automobile earlier than one cop climbs into the again seat and unbuckles his seatbelt — clearly agitating the alleged boozer.
“Get the f–okay out of right here,” Klimek screamed on the officer in his automobile, who calmly responded: “Alright, Wally, we’re going to should get out, man.”
“I’m the Chief of Police in Bridgeview,” the alleged drunkard slurred earlier than shrieking, “What are you doing again right here?! What are you doing again right here with my f–king arm?”
At the very least three cops spent a number of minutes making an attempt to tug Klimek out of his automobile as he wailed in agony, with the pissed off, out-of-breath officers telling the previous prime cop to “cease resisting,” the footage reveals.
“Go away me alone!” Klimek shouted a number of occasions whereas honking his horn.
“You guys are my buddies. I’m sorry,” he then muttered, in line with the video.
Klimek was ultimately positioned on a stretcher, the place he constantly apologized earlier than being hauled away.
After he was booked, Klimek appeared confused and exhausted as cops repeatedly defined that he was concerned in an accident, his automobile was towed and he was charged with driving underneath the affect, the footage reveals.
“What do you imply a DUI,” a befuddled Klimek responded.
“I’m not drunk.”
Police stated Klimek refused to have his blood drawn at a neighborhood hospital to find out his blood-alcohol content material, in line with the arrest report.
He was charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest and DUI.
The case is at present pending in Cook dinner County Court docket.
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