A DUI driver who slammed right into a Chicago police officer after which crashed into a light-weight pole whereas the cop was nonetheless clinging to the hood of his dashing automotive has been sentenced to seven years in jail.
The responsible plea entered Friday by 23-year-old Jose Ruiz Crespin brings a comparatively fast finish to the case, which started when Chicago cops responded to stories of a disruptive celebration shortly earlier than midnight on March 8.
Officers cleared out the gathering within the 100 block of North Lamon Avenue and remained close by to make sure partygoers dispersed peacefully, in keeping with Crespin’s arrest report. As the gang broke up, Crespin acquired behind the wheel of his BMW 325i, backed right into a automotive parked behind him, then drove ahead and struck one other parked automotive on the other facet of the road.
A 26-year-old officer exited his squad automotive and walked towards Crespin’s automobile as a backseat passenger jumped out. Crespin then accelerated towards the absolutely uniformed officer, hanging him.
The affect threw the officer onto the hood because the BMW sped down the road and slammed into a light-weight pole, prosecutors stated. The collision was so forceful that each tires on the passenger facet of the automotive lifted off the bottom.
The officer was thrown from the hood with such drive that his firearm was knocked unfastened from its holster, and his physique digital camera flew roughly 20 toes away. He was taken to Stroger Hospital with a damaged ankle.
Crespin refused medical therapy however was transported to a hospital as a precaution. In keeping with a police report, he “fell asleep and couldn’t be woke up” throughout the hospital go to. A blood take a look at later confirmed his blood alcohol content material was .2466—greater than thrice the authorized restrict.
A grand jury indicted Crespin on 11 felonies, together with three counts of tried homicide. On Friday, he resolved the case by pleading responsible to aggravated battery of a peace officer and aggravated DUI inflicting bodily harm, court docket information present.
Decide Neera Walsh sentenced him to seven years on the DUI cost and 6 concurrent years on the battery rely. With good habits, Crespin will serve about half of the seven-year sentence.
Prosecutors stated Crespin’s report features a 2024 collision involving private harm and a conviction for dashing 15 to 25 miles per hour over the restrict that very same yr.
