Grayslake officials investigating weekend DUI arrest of police chief in Wisconsin

Nearly two months after being named Grayslake’s police chief, Matthew McCutcheon now faces drunken driving-related charges following a weekend accident near Silver Lake, Wis., Kenosha County authorities said Wednesday.

McCutcheon, 46, of Grayslake, was arrested Friday about 9:45 p.m. after the car he was driving struck another vehicle head-on while making a turn, just over the state border. McCutcheon was charged with being armed while intoxicated and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

The arrest report states McCutcheon was intoxicated when talking with officers after the crash, and was in possession of a loaded handgun while being interviewed by police at the scene.

“If the investigation confirms the media reports, this would constitute unacceptable conduct for an individual in the position of Grayslake police chief,” Mayor Rhett Taylor said in a statement issued Wednesday.

Taylor’s statement added that no further comment could be made until the investigation is concluded. Attempts to reach Taylor by phone were unsuccessful.

Village officials have scheduled a closed-door meeting at village hall Thursday evening regarding “personnel.” Officials have not indicated whether McCutcheon’s arrest will be discussed.

McCutcheon has been unavailable for comment.

A Kenosha County sheriff’s deputy wrote in an arrest report that McCutcheon and his wife were heading east on Highway C in their black Honda and attempting to make a right turn onto Route 45 when he took too wide of a turn and hit a silver Dodge.

There were no injuries from the crash, the report said, and McCutcheon refused treatment by paramedics who insisted he be taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons.

According to the report obtained from the Kenosha County sheriff’s office, the deputy saw McCutcheon swaying back and forth and his eyes were red and glassy while standing outside his car when officers arrived.

The deputy also smelled alcohol on McCutcheon while questioning him, the report said.

The deputy asked McCutcheon if he had anything to drink and McCutcheon replied he had a few beers during dinner with his wife, the report stated. McCutcheon later told officers he had three vodka martinis at the Three Oaks Restaurant in Wilmot, Wis.

McCutcheon also showed the deputy his badge and identified himself as an off-duty police officer from Illinois while fumbling for his driver’s license, the report stated.

The officer asked McCutcheon if he was armed, and McCutcheon said “yes,” raised his shirt and displayed a Kimber 9 mm handgun with one bullet in the chamber and six bullets in the magazine, the report continued.

The gun was confiscated, authorities said, and is being held for evidence.

McCutcheon refused a field sobriety test at the scene, which resulted in an automatic suspension of his driver’s license.

He was taken to Aurora Hospital in Kenosha and asked if he would submit a blood sample, which he initially refused, but later accepted.

He was released by the Kenosha County jail after posting bail. His next court date is unknown.

McCutcheon was appointed Grayslake’s interim police chief in July 2011 after Larry Herzog retired. He was named to the position on a full-time basis in February.

As part of the selection process, high-level village administration employees, a Grayslake Chamber of Commerce representative, Herzog and Hainesville Mayor Linda Soto were included on an interview team. Soto was asked to participate because her village contracts for police service from Grayslake.

Soto said Wednesday she’s satisfied that Grayslake’s internal investigation of McCutcheon is similar to what she would pursue if he were a Hainesville employee.

“I have spoken to Mayor Taylor and, at this point, I have no comment,” she said.

McCutcheon launched his law-enforcement career with the Country Club Hills Police Department in 1989, then joined Grayslake as a patrol officer in 1991. He worked his way to operations commander in 1998.

In 1994, McCutcheon received the Lake County Valor Award. He was recognized for rescuing an unconscious woman from a burning building and locating a drug overdose victim after following her tracks in a January snow in separate incidents.

Grayslake has a department with 33 full- and two part-time sworn employees. Hainesville is an additional beat for the department.

Herzog was Grayslake’s police chief for 13 years when he retired.

Ÿ Daily Herald Staff Writer Bob Susnjara contributed to this report.