Former Bensenville cadet charged with impersonating police officer

A former Bensenville police cadet was charged with impersonating a police officer after he flashed a badge during a drunken-driving arrest, prosecutors said Monday.

Jason Mandziara, 34, of the 1900 block of Maureen Drive in Hoffman Estates, was ordered held on $35,000 bail by a DuPage County judge.

Mandziara was arrested about 7:20 p.m. Sunday after a Wood Dale resident reported a man urinating on a lawn and claiming to be a police officer.

The resident described Mandziara's 2007 Chrysler and, a short time later, Addison police were called to a rear-end crash on Mill Road involving the same vehicle, Assistant State's Attorney Deb Brewer told Judge Elizabeth Sexton. Brewer said the victim in the crash was hospitalized with neck and back injuries.

At the scene of the accident, Mandziara “flashed” a police cadet badge and a Bensenville police commission card, Brewer said, describing him as “clearly under the influence.” She said investigators later determined Mandziara lost his position as a Bensenville cadet more than a year ago.

Mandziara was charged with false personation of a police officer, DUI and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. In court Monday, he told the judge he was a police officer for 10 years until September 2012 and is now pursuing a disability claim.

Mandziara has no prior criminal record and would have to post $3,500 to be released from jail. His next court date is Sept. 16 in front of Judge George Bakalis.