Crestwood Cop Charged With DUI After 2 Crashes: Midlothian Police

MIDLOTHIAN, IL — A Crestwood police officer is facing drunk driving charges after he got involved in two car crashes minutes apart in Midlothian, police said. Christopher Spencer, 49, is charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

Around 2:22 p.m. Monday, Midlothian police officers responded to a hit-and-run vehicle crash in the parking lot of White Castle at 147th Street and Cicero Avenue. The vehicle owner described the driver as a white male driving a red Ford F-350. He was able to provide a plate number and photo of the driver, later identified as Spencer, police said.

Less than 30 minutes later, a resident on the 15100 block of South Kostner Avenue called 911 when someone crashed into his garage. Officers found the red Ford F-350 sought in the earlier crash at White Castle parked in the grass of the homeowner’s backyard. There was damage to the residence’s garage door and landscaping.

The homeowner told police he didn’t know Spencer. Police said Spencer stayed in his vehicle and was drinking from a bottle of liquor. The homeowner was able to take away Spencer’s keys, liquor and cell phone, police said.

Officers said detected a strong odor of alcohol and slurred speech while speaking to Spencer, who reportedly showed signs of impairment during field sobriety tests. Spencer, of Monee, was taken into custody. He was processed and released by Midlothian police and was given a court date.

Spencer is an 18-year veteran of the Crestwood Police Department and one of its highest paid officers, earning an annual salary $115,348. According to news reports, Spencer was given a year's supervision in January 2022 when his blood alcohol contest was .274, three times above the legal limit. In that incident, Spencer was said to have driven the same Ford over someone's lawn.

Crestwood Police Chief Kevin Sisk, of the Crestwood Police Department, did not return an email from Patch seeking comment.