A local official in Illinois is facing legal trouble after an embarrassing incident on the road.

Samantha Steele, a Cook County Board of Review commissioner, was arrested for DUI and exhibited inappropriate behavior towards police officers during her arrest, as Breitbart reports.

On the evening of Nov. 10, Chicago police responded to a traffic accident on the 5000 block of North Ashland Avenue. They discovered two damaged vehicles, and Steele was lying near her car.

Upon approaching Steele, officers found her uncooperative, refusing to provide her driver's license or exit the vehicle. A half-empty bottle of wine was visible inside her car, further raising suspicions of her condition.

Encounter with Police Intensifies

Despite repeated requests from the officers, Steele attempted to contact her attorney rather than comply with the standard procedure.

"Ask him," Steele said to the officer, referring to her lawyer who was also present at the scene.

As tensions escalated, Steele admitted to hitting two parked cars and claimed she was driving a friend’s vehicle. The officers attempted to conduct a field sobriety test, which Steele initially resisted.

"I don’t have to exit the car… I’ll wait for my attorney," Steele asserted, but the officer warned her that refusal to cooperate would necessitate her removal from the vehicle.

Legal and Racial Tensions Surface

Once handcuffed, Steele finally agreed to undergo the sobriety test. It was during this process that she made sexually inappropriate comments to an officer of East Asian descent, questioning the officer's masculinity in a derogatory manner.

Steele's conduct continued to draw concern as she invoked her status as an elected official in an attempt to influence the officers. "I’m an elected official… I don’t want any of this," she remarked during her arrest.

This incident comes amidst a lawsuit from Frank Calabrese, a former aide, who accused Steele of racist comments and of pressuring him into unwanted political activities.

Charges and Consequences

Following the incident, Steele was charged with a misdemeanor for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Her attorney, Scott Britton, who is also a Cook County commissioner, was present but unable to prevent her from being taken into custody.

At the hospital, Britton advised Steele to remain silent. "Don’t say anything," he told her, emphasizing the gravity of her situation.

An unidentified female friend of Steele pleaded with the officers during the arrest, asking for a brief pause to allow Steele to compose herself, which was not granted.

Community Reaction and Next Steps

The arrest of Samantha Steele has stirred controversy and debate within the Cook County community, particularly regarding the conduct expected of public officials.

Steele's behavior during the arrest has been criticized widely, with many calling for accountability and a review of her position as a commissioner.

As the legal proceedings continue, the focus remains on the implications of her actions for her career and the public's trust in elected officials.