Prosecutors Drop DUI Charges After Viewing Video

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Mar 11, 2009 4:00PM

Cook County prosecutors have dropped DUI charges against Raymond L. Bell after viewing a video that they say proves arresting officer Joe D. Parker fabricated information in defending his decision to arrest Bell. Parker claimed in his report that after pulling over Bell on the evening of July 7, 2008, Bell "staggered" and was "unsteady" yet the video (below) shows a different story. Parker had previously won praise for being one of the leading DUI-enforcers in the state but in light of this incident, dozens of his prior arrests are now being reviewed and criminal charges could be pending against Parker; two other officers are also having their DUI arrests reviewed. Prosecutors refused to comment further on the case but Bell's attorney, Gregory Reeder, said, "If we didn't have the videotape, he could have gotten a conviction and lost his license. This was a blatant falsehood. They [prosecutors] definitely did the right thing." [Sun-Times]