Former Police Chief’s Dramatic DUI Arrest Caught on Body Cam
In a scene that could rival a low-budget reality show, Walter Klimek, the former police chief of Bridgeview, Illinois, found himself on the wrong side of the law in a bizarre and tumultuous DUI arrest captured on body cam. The incident unfolded in December in the town of Justice, just a short drive from Chicago, where Klimek was reportedly involved in a serious car crash, complete with deployed airbags and a mangled vehicle. Instead of exercising his right to remain silent, the ex-chief opted for a theatrical display, screaming “Let me go!” from the confines of his car as officers attempted to coax him out.
As the footage reveals, the situation escalated quickly. Klimek’s refusal to exit his vehicle forced one officer to enter through the back seat to unbuckle him, leading to a dramatic extraction. Whether he was genuinely injured or merely throwing a tantrum remains a mystery, but his subsequent sobs of apology painted a curious picture of regret. Once on the stretcher, he continued to plead with officers, all while traffic built up behind the scene, a fitting metaphor for his spiraling career.
Once at the station, Klimek faced the harsh reality of his situation: arrest for DUI and misdemeanor resisting arrest. Despite his protestations of sobriety—his slurred speech betraying him—he was informed that his car had been towed, a fact he vehemently denied. Chicago’s WGN-TV reported that Klimek was allegedly speeding when he collided with a guardrail and struck another vehicle, injuring its occupant in the process. Interestingly, Klimek declined a blood test that could have determined his blood-alcohol level, leaving many to speculate about the extent of his inebriation.
Klimek, who served as Bridgeview’s police chief since 2013, has now entered a perplexing chapter of his life, trading in his badge for courtroom drama. As the legal ramifications of the incident unfold, one can only wonder if this former law enforcer will finally learn that sometimes, silence is golden.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and WGN-TV, Chicago Tribune
Image Credit: Attribution: Retrieved via Creative Commons License from images.findagrave.com
