My Two Hours In the Oak Lawn Slammer
Your Oak Lawn Patch editor got arrested last night.
Last night on my way home from the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting, I was pulled over on 95th Street because of a rear light that I did not know was burned out on my car.
Unbeknownst to me, the Illinois Secretary of State had also apparently suspended my driver’s license last week because of some unpaid parking tickets in Chicago prior to my moving to Oak Lawn a year ago. This is what the police officer told me, and everything that I know as of 12:24 a.m. Wednesday.
I was handcuffed—a first and last for me—and taken to the Oak Lawn police lockup. I was fingerprinted and had my mug shot taken. Then I sat in jail while I waited for some friends to come bail me out of the hoosegow. My bail was $150.
Rest assured, I will be on the phone to the Secretary of State first thing this morning as well as paying a visit to the Chicago Department of Revenue to get this resolved—which it will be before the end of the week.
The police knew I was the Oak Lawn Patch editor. They recognized me from various crime scenes and coming to the station to do the police blotter. While sitting in lockup, another gentleman was brought in. He was treated with the same courtesy and respect as accorded to me. The police were great actually, and very understanding—much more understanding than I deserved.
Aside from my embarrassment, my biggest discomfort was that I had drunk a Venti pumpkin spice latte during the village board meeting and had to go to the bathroom.
I know that a public record of my arrest will end up in the pile of police reports that is set aside for my colleagues in the press when they come to the station to do their respective blotters. I would respect them less if they didn’t report it. I wanted Patch readers to hear it from me first.
The job of a community journalist isn’t an easy one, especially when you live in the town that you cover, but if I’m going to hold public officials’ feet to the fire, I have to be willing to stick my own leather uppers into the flames. And my feet are burning now as I speak.
You, the readers, deserve complete transparency from your public officials. This goes for your Patch editor, too.
So let the comments fly. If you want to call me a hypocrite, go ahead. I deserve it. Don’t forget to add “sleaze” and “sensationalist.” I’ve been called those things too.
My court date is at 9 a.m. Nov. 30 at the Bridgeview Court House. You are all welcome to come.
In This article
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Village of Oak Lawn
9446 Raymond Ave, Oak Lawn, IL -
Village of Oak Lawn Police Department
9446 Raymond Ave, Oak Lawn, IL
Sandy Paul
6:17 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Just another point of view
to make you good at what you do!
STM
6:34 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Wow, a simple burnt out bulb got you into this mess. If I knew that your bulb was burnt out, I would have gladly replaced it for you.
Lorraine, you are the best and on top of things that you do the best. Don't worry about this minor incident, even thou it must have been a hassle for you.
Glad to hear that the Oak Lawn police were understanding and respectful. After all you are a lady and you should be respected as such.
Ryan Fitzpatrick
10:16 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Hear, hear!
Grunty
7:15 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
I always knew you where a rebel and lawbreaker Lorraine.
Just kidding haha :D
DLC DAVE
7:37 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
You could of had used the old hidden twenty dollar bill under suspended license trick,but it wouldn't work in this century ... have fun for 4 hours on the phone with the Secretary of states office I hope you comprende Spanish lol
Pat F
8:01 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
I'll come and stand up for you, but I want something a little stronger than Venti pumpkin spice latte!! (whatever that is??)
P Roberts
8:57 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
I would like to know your gang colors, so that if I see you in the street, I'll be aware of how dangerous you really are.rather than the lovely lady you seem. As you well know, Chicago and OL are making every effort to collect money so they can give out more and more scholarships to illegals. so they are prepared to take over the American government, and open pot stores on every corner. Hang tight, and you will prevail.We're all pulling for you!
CJM
8:01 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
As a show of support, you could stage an "Occupy Oak Lawn" at your hearing!
Seriously, bad things happen to good people all the time, and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I'm all out of cliches, but jokes aside, throwing you in jail for technical infractions seems a bit heavy-handed. I'd rather see police reserve the cell space and stepped-up harassment for gang bangers and muggers that seem to be making themselves home in Oak Lawn.
Fight the power!
Pat F
8:20 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
The police can't find the criminals if they're using the counties' addresses for them?! But I agree, this did seem a little over the top..But, then again No license is a pretty big violation..Better keep better track of those parking tickets, or better yet just stay on the south suburbs out of the city!!
Jacqui Podzius Cook
8:48 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Phew! I thought the village board meeting got waaaaay out of control! I am very surprised you wound up in the Greybar Hotel for a couple traffic infractions, but I'm glad it was only a short stay. I had to go to the Lockup Last year to get my license back and I totally concur with your assessment -- they were really good guys over there, considering what they have to put up with all day.
P Roberts
9:03 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
I'm very sorry this happened. But lets not jump on the police who are just following orders. So would you if it were your job at risk. So make up your mind. You want to collect all the money we can for violations,to keep OL funded, or give passes?
Lorraine Swanson
9:38 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
The OLPD were great. This isn't a slam against them.
andy skoundrianos
10:03 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Sorry Lorraine, Oh well you have a story to write about anyway.
P Roberts
12:47 pm on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
For me, that's very very clear. Most would have ripped the police to shreds, to save face, true or not.
QC
9:56 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Is there a tape involved? lol
oak lawn mom
10:00 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Lorraine, keep up the good work!
P. Roberts, nowhere in this article did I see her "jump on" the OLPD.
I have nothing but the highest respect for both the OLPD, and OLFD, and I
think she portrayed them in a positive light. The OLPD followed procedure.
And Lorraine will, I am sure, clear up the situation on her end.
Bob Lanz
10:09 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Lorraine glad to see you have a good humor and humbleness about the situation. Especially in this time of everybody passing the buck and blaming others you have taken RESPONSIBILTY for your actions. Kudos to you you crazy scofflaw! As for anyone who wants to knock OLPD, they did their job and did so respectfully according to Lorraine. As someone who works side by side with Oak Lawns Finest they are professional, and do so while putting up with alot of grief. You would slam them if they didn't do their job, and made exceptions for anyone or chose when to enforce the law. -Bob Lanz Oak Lawn Firefighters Local 3405
joe
10:20 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Is my name still written on the cell wall!!!!lol
P Roberts
10:39 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
To Oak Lawn Mom: I'm sorry you see that, reference please to the comment. I throughly approve of all Lorraine's actions, , and would never say anything to diminish that respect.
Oak Lawn Gal
1:07 pm on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Lorraine I think it's very "stand up" of you to report this first and to still be supportive of the OLPD. It shows a lot of integrity and gives you credibility imo. I knew you could get stopped for broken lights but had no idea you could get arrested for outstanding traffic tickets. There's also a part of me that thinks the police should focus more on real criminals thanks things like broken lights. But anyway thanks for sharing.
P.S. I'd also like to see any video of you cuffed :) J/K
Bill Watson
2:53 pm on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
I used to stop cars for equipment violations all of the time. Some years I led my District in criminal arrests, in no small part because wanted people may not realize that they have no rear license plate light. We had written warnings, so I could run a check on the driver and vehicle and just give them a warning if everything checked out. I loved the job and had a lot of fun up until I retired.
What used to get me was some nice person who had a suspended license due to emissions testing or rather lack thereof. Had to take them in and wait for bond, plus usually had to tow vehicle because a person can't just post bond and then drive on a suspended driver's license.
One quick story. I stopped a speeder on the Ryan Xway and he was suspended. I asked him if either of his two passengers had a valid license so that they could drive his car. He came back with his brother's DL and when I checked, his brother was wanted with a $50,000 bond. I took them both in and released the driver on an I-bond(no cash), but locked his brother up. While filling out the paperwork I asked if the driver knew that his brother was wanted and he told me that he did know. You should have seen the look when it dawned on them. Two of the three of us had a good laugh.
P. S. The second unrelated passenger had a valid DL and followed us to 51st and Wentworth.
Ben Feldheim
1:27 pm on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Reason number 5,478 why Lorraine Swanson is awesome, and example to her fellow editors.
Jim Powers
2:48 pm on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Lorraine, maybe you should have stuck to covering volleyball way back when. Nice job on the column.
Lorraine Swanson
2:51 pm on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
You are all so kind -- much more than I deserve. This is why I love Oak Lawn, and that's coming from a North Sider. Thanks everyone!
DLC DAVE
9:04 am on Thursday, October 27, 2011
Did you say North sider ? well that about cooks your goose in Oak Lawn ouch
J. J. Zurek
11:29 pm on Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Lorraine:
In the State of Illinois you can use a Credit/Debit Card to Post Bail, you actually had to wait for someone to bring you $150.00. Remember that commercial on television "NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT" American Express, Of course the $150.00 Credit/Debit Card Bail would have cost you a $15.00 Service Fee, No one Posts Bail Anymore with Cash, Could of saved you a lot of time and you could have gone to the rest room a lot sooner too. Next Time just hand them a Credit Card.
Lorraine Swanson
2:00 am on Saturday, October 29, 2011
Update: Paid all of my parking tickets Friday at the Chicago Department of Revenue. All I need to do now is bring the receipt to the Illinois Sec'y of State and my license will be reinstated.
Nabeha Zegar
8:43 am on Saturday, October 29, 2011
Lorraine, you can now use the phrases "when I was in lock-up" and "during my jail time" in conversation. Glad your time is da slamma was pleasant!
Nabeha Zegar
9:29 am on Saturday, October 29, 2011
*in
scouter
11:17 pm on Friday, November 11, 2011
It was nice that they were respectful... most of them are...I love it when they are respectful. I hate it when you get one who seems to be having a bad day and nothing you say or do is going to make a difference...
You are a classy lady and thanks for the report... it sure made me smile and then I started to think - are my lights all working??? lol
Oak Lawn Gal
11:58 am on Monday, December 5, 2011
Yay Lorraine I read that the prosecutors dropped the case after you paid the tickets !! I also think you're classy and I also checked all my car lights to make sure they were working lol.