Orland Township trustee candidate has outstanding arrest warrant
A candidate challenging the incumbent officials in Orland Township has an outstanding arrest warrant for three charges stemming from an accident that took place in August 2017. Any police department, including the Orland Park Police, can arrest Lora M. Kreczmer who is a candidate running on the Orland Residents for Responsible Government (ORRG) political slate in the April 6, 2021 election. Kreczmer failed to appear in Bridgeview court on Sept. 26, 2017 to face charges including “Driving Under the Influence – Drugs,” “Suspend Revoked Drivers License,” and “Failure to Yield – Private Road/Drive” prompting the arrest warrant
By Ray Hanania
UPDATE: Lora Kreczmer turns herself in to Chicago Ridge Police on outstanding warrant Tuesday afternoon, where she posted bond, and received a new court date set for April 27, Click here for details.
Chicago Ridge Police on Monday confirmed that an active arrest warrant is outstanding for Lora M. Kreczmer for an August 1, 2017 vehicle accident that took place at 101st and Harlem Avenue in which she failed to appear at court
The Chicago Ridge Police report lists four charges including “Driving Under the Influence Drugs,” “Suspend Revoked Drivers License” and “Failure to Yield – Private Road/Drive.”
Kreczmer, 43, is running for the post of Trustee on the Orland Residents for Responsible Government (ORRG) slate led by Scott R. Kaspar. The slate is endorsed by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau who last May named Kaspar to the village’s new Ethics Committee.
The Arrest Warrant against Kreczmer was issued on March 21, 2018, nearly two year ago, after Kreczmer failed to appear at Bridgeview court on Sept. 26, 2017.
The DUI-Drug charge involved the use of prescription drugs. The police officer requested that Kreczmer take a field sobriety test at the accident scene after observing her “delayed/deliberate” demeanor, according to the police report.
The arrest warrant has a fixed bail of $25,000. Kreczmer could post a $25,000 (D) Bond (or 10 percent which would be $2,500) if she turns herself in and returns to court for a hearing. Or, she could be arrested by any police department in Cook County including by the Orland Park Police since the Arrest Warrant is issued in Cook County, and a new court hearing date would be scheduled, police officials said.
Repeated requests for comment made to Ms. Kreczmer went unanswered on Monday including to her cell phone number. A request through the ORRG website media contact email was forwarded to Ms. Kreczmer, the ORRG slate website responded late Monday.
Kreczmer has since moved from the address where she was last living In Palos Hills when the warrant was issued, and a phone number she had then has been assigned to another individual.
Officer E. Kaspar (not related to Scott Kaspar) detailed the incident in his Chicago Ridge Police Case report (Case Number 1417-06576), which was obtained from the Chicago Ridge Police through a FOIA request, parts of which are transcribed here.
“Reporting Officer Kaspar #116 (R/O) observed a gray Dodge Charger attempt to exit a parking lot in the 10100 block of S. Harlem Avenue, while making a right turn and then strike a blue Jeep which was traveling northbound within the left (median) lane. Both vehicles relocated off of the roadway (parking lot) at which time R/O spoke with the driver of the Jeep (Hughes) who related she was traveling northbound in the left (median) lane when the driver of the Dodge exited the parking lot (turning right) and struck the right side of her vehicle.”
“R/O then spoke with the driver of the Dodge (later identified as Kreczmer) who related she was making a right turn onto Harlem Avenue but wasn’t sure how she struck the other vehicle. Kreczmer went onto relate that she didn’t have her driver’s license on her person due to having been previously cited for no insurance. While speaking with Kreczmer, R/O observed her movements to be delayed/deliberate, at times would appear to be in a blank stare and spoke with mumbled speech.”
The police officer then spoke with Kreczmer who informed him she was taking several prescription drugs.
Kreczmer did exit her vehicle to survey the damage sustained, in which she had to utilize the driver’s door to steady herself as she was standing up. Having not detected any odor of alcoholic beverage, R/O asked Kreczmer if she currently takes medication that would explain the observations made of her by R/O.”
“R/O then requested Kreczmer submit to a field sobriety testing to which she agreed. R/O then demonstrated and explained the following field sobriety tests.”
The four tests administered at the accident scene and the results according to the Chicago Ridge Police are:
“1. Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus – Signs of consumption present.
“2. Walk & Turn – signs of impairment present.
“3. One Leg Stand – signs of impairment present.
“4. Portable Breath Test – 000
“Kreczmer was found to have signs of consumption {drugs(s)} as well as impairment and based on R/O’s observations of Kreczmer, field sobriety testing and a preliminary crash investigation, Kreczmer was placed under arrest for Driving Under the Influence – Drug(s) without incident. It should be noted that Kreczmer’s drivers license was also suspended at the time of this crash. Kreczmer was later transported to C.R.P.D. by Officer Pomper for processing while R/O transported the two minor children who were passengers of Kreczmer at the time of the crash. R/O then summoned the Chicago Ridge Fire Department as the request of Hughes who was experiencing neck pain. Walsh’s Towing was summoned to the scene for both vehicles.
“Kreczmer was read verbatim the Warning to Motorists at 12:46 hours and submitted to a urine sample at 12:56 hours which was done in the presence of Clerk Donna Betsanes. R/O advised Kreczmer of her constitutional rights at 13:07 hours to which she stated she understood and answered the questions contained on the alcohol/Drug Influence Report. Kreczmer was issued four traffic citations pending a court date of Sept. 26, 2017 at 9:00 hours in room #208 of the Fifth Municipal District Courthouse.”
UPDATES:
Efforts to reach Lora Kreczmer have been stymied. She hasn’t responded to text messages, or messages forwarded to her by the ORRG. And when I tried to reach her on Twitter, she responded by blocking my inquiries.
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
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