Kreczmer turns herself in to Chicago Ridge Police
Orland Township trustee candidate surrenders to the Chicago Ridge Police on an outstanding arrest warrant for an accident in which she was involved back in August 2017. Lora Kreczmer was charged with DUI-drugs, driving with a revoked drivers license, and failure to yield in an accident involving another vehicle. Kreczmer is running on the Orland Residents for Responsible Government slate in the April 6, 2021 election.
By Ray Hanania
Lora M. Kreczmer, 43, turned herself in to the Chicago Ridge Police Department on Tuesday after details were revealed about an outstanding arrest warrant that had been issued for her arrest stemming from an August 2017 car accident, Chicago Ridge police officials confirmed Tuesday.
Chicago Ridge Police said Kreczmer came to the station at 14025 S. Ridgeland Avenue just after 12 noon on Tuesday where she surrendered. She was released after she posted bond. The police said she was given a new court date at the Bridgeview Court for April 27. Kreczmer went to the Chicago Ridge Police Department hours after the rival slate of Orland Township incumbents led by Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady publicly called for her to turn herself into the police.
On Monday, Chicago Ridge Police confirmed that an active arrest warrant was outstanding for Kreczmer for an August 1, 2017 vehicle accident that took place at 101st and Harlem Avenue for which she failed to appear at court facing four serious charges.
The Chicago Ridge Police report listed four charges including “Driving Under the Influence Drugs,” “Suspend Revoked Drivers License” and “Failure to Yield – Private Road/Drive.” Police said she also did not have vehicle insurance.
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.
Officials of the incumbent slate led by Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady issued a press release calling on Kreczmer to turn herself in hours before Kreczmer went to the Chicago Ridge Police Department to do just that.
“In response to a March 8 SuburbanChicagoland.com story, ‘Orland Township trustee candidate has outstanding arrest warrant,’ that details the 2017 arrest of Lora Kreczmer on four charges, including ‘driving under the influence of drugs,’ ‘suspend revoked driver’s license’ and ‘failure to yield, Orland Township Together Supervisor candidate Paul O’Grady issued the following statement.
“I was shocked to learn that a member of the Orland Residents for Responsible Government slate, Lora Kreczmer, has been wanted by law enforcement authorities on an outstanding arrest warrant since 2018. It boggles the mind that such an individual would think that they could brazenly put their name forward as a candidate, much less be entrusted with the responsibility of elected office. It calls into serious question supervisor candidate Scott Kaspar’s judgment and his ability to manage the township if he cannot even manage to keep a fugitive off his slate.
“If Scott Kaspar or the other members of the Orland Residents for Responsible Government slate know of their fellow candidate’s whereabouts, I ask that they join me in calling for her to turn herself in at the nearest police station, or at least tell law enforcement officials where she can be found so that she can be arrested. I would also encourage them, if they know that she has fled the state to avoid prosecution, to share any information they have about her present location.
“As a former police officer in this community for 10 years, and the former chief of staff for the Cook County sheriff, I believe it’s imperative that elected officials do everything possible to support the men and women of law enforcement, who put everything on the line each day to keep us safe. Support starts with respect for the law and It’s deeply offensive to me that Scott Kaspar, who is a member of the Orland Park Ethics Committee no less, and Orland Residents for Responsible Government have put forward someone that clearly doesn’t’ have this basic value.”
O’Grady indicated that in the coming days he expects to release additional information about another member of the Orland Residents for Responsible Government slate that will raise disturbing questions about that individual’s fitness for office. For now, however, he would like to keep the focus on making sure that ORRG trustee candidate Kreczmer is apprehended
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.”
Kreczmer did not return repeated attempts to contact her to provide her side of the story including through the Orland Resident for Responsible Government which forwarded emails requesting her comments to her several times, they said.
The Arrest warrant was issued by the Chicago Ridge Police Department, according to the Cook County Sherif’s Office which confirmed the arrest warrant details. They wrote: “A search of the Cook County Clerks database revealed an active arrest warrant issued with the name provided in the request (Lora M. Kreczmer) issued by the Chicago Ridge Police Department and NOT the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for Failure to Appear in court on a DUI arrest that occurred on 08-01-2017. The case number the warrant was issued under is the citation, YE513003 and the arrest warrant was issued on 03-21-2018. Please contact Chicago Ridge PD for records.”
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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