I need to see your >> to wait for him. Hey, ma'am. You don't need to make this any more complicated than it already is. It's just an accident. I just need to see your driver's license. >> for him. Okay, ma'am. Do you want me to handcuff you and arrest you? No. Because right now at this point you're refusing to provide me any I am. You are. You realize that, right? >> Yes. I'm an elected official. You what? I don't want any of this. What the hell? On November 11th, 2024, officers from the Cook County Police Department responded to a vehicle crash in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood, where they encountered Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele. Witnesses reported that Steele, visibly intoxicated, tried to flee the scene but was unable due to damage to her car after striking two other vehicles. When police arrived, she refused to provide her driver's license or exit her vehicle, repeatedly invoking her position by stating, "I'm an elected official." During the encounter, officers noted a strong smell of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and found a half-empty bottle of wine on the floor of her car. You all right? You able to anything? Okay. What? Do you need an ambulance or anything? Let's Let's walk to your car cuz I don't want you to get hit by a car, okay? Well, I'm a Yeah, I see that you're a car. Here, ma'am, right over here. Right over here. Right over here. Right over here. Okay. Can you start off with your driver's license, please? Sure. Why don't you have a seat in your car, ma'am? Why don't you have a seat in the car? Okay. Let's start off with your driver's license and your proof of insurance, okay? Yeah, I'm here. Okay. He wants your driver's license and your proof of that. Who's this? My attorney. Your who? Your attorney? All right. You can call him in a little bit cuz right now everything's recorded audio video, okay? But you're involved in a traffic accident. I'd like to see your driver's license and your proof of insurance. Ask him. Okay, who's that driving? >> Just Just hang Yeah, just hang up Samantha and I'll be there. Tell him I'm on my way. >> Yes. He's on his way. Yes. She said he said he'll be on his way. Okay, let's start off with your driver's license and your insurance. >> I know ma'am, but I need to see your driver's license to verify you're okay to be driving. And number two, your insurance so we can start the paperwork. There's some damage done to your car. I'll wait for him. Ma'am, I told you everything's being audio and video taped, okay? >> I'm just saying I'm I'll be waiting for my attorney. >> your driver's license and your proof of insurance. I'm sure you can provide me with those two things while we're waiting for your attorney to show up. >> I'll wait for him. Okay, but we don't have to wait for him. I need to see your >> to wait for him. Okay, ma'am. You don't need to make this any more complicated than it already is. It's just an accident. I just need to see your driver's license >> for him. Okay, ma'am. Do you want me to handcuff you and arrest you? No. >> Because right now at this point you're refusing to provide me any I am. You are. You realize that, right? >> Yes. I've been elected official. You what? >> I don't want any of this. Well, ma'am, you're involved in an accident. You've hit up several cars. Two. >> So, yeah, I need to see your driver's license so I can start the paperwork. >> in front of me and I So, okay, great. I'll ask you that in a second. But I really need to verify this is your this is your car? No, it's my friend's car. >> It's your friend's car, okay. Do you have a valid driver's license? >> Okay, great. And I have insurance. >> How about an ID? I do. >> Okay, can I see some of those so I can know who you are? >> attorney. Okay. Okay, I'm trying to I'm I'm trying to work with you here. >> But you're not providing me your driver's license and your insurance. No. And why are we waiting for your attorney for? He's in my car. He's in your car? Okay, but he wasn't here in the car. No. Is that him there? No. Okay, you want to give him a call? He's coming. Okay. You want to give him a call so I can talk to him? You want to talk to him? Yeah, please. Who's this? Officer wants to talk to you. Okay. This is Officer Fernandez with the 20th District. Oops. Officer, where are you? Uh your client here I'm fine. Your client here was involved in an accident. How far are you? Hello. >> Uh like 25 minutes. Okay, I need to see her driver's license and her proof of insurance. And she's under the standing that she doesn't have to provide that to me until you arrive. Can you advise your client >> That is not true. that I I would be happy to advise your client. client. >> Okay, please. Can you advise her so I can get this paperwork started? I will. Great, thank you. Now, you listen to him. Yeah, I know what time it is, I know. Yeah, I'll get it to you. All right, so go ahead. It is by state law you have to give him your driver's license and your insurance >> Great. That's great advice. >> paperwork started. That is exactly what you should do, and I'll be there in about 25 minutes to give further advice. That's all that's all you're required to do. Your name and your >> Wait, thank you. And you said this is not your car, right? No, it's my friend's >> to have Do you happen to know if he has insurance? >> He does. Can you go look in the glove compartment for me? It's a fancy car. >> Yeah, I understand. I just need to look at see if he's got insurance. I don't know if it's in the fancy one. You want me to take a look to see if he's got it? I think I think he's got Oh, there you go. Wait. Yep, that seems to be it. I'll be right back. Stay in your car, okay? Okay, Mrs. Steels, you can put that away. He's got valid insurance. Okay. Is that your attorney still? Yes. Is he still on his way? Can you tell me how far he is? How Let me just check here. 15 minutes. Okay, we'll wait for you to arrive. All right, thank you, officer. All right, I'll be there as soon as he gets Thank you. Okay. Wait. Well, you hit two cars, so we got to give you a traffic accident, okay? >> Okay. And uh I don't know what we can do about the car because it's not drivable. Your tire is pretty messed up. It's not going to be allowed you to drive home, so Is your attorney maybe going to be able to drive you home? >> Yes. And I'll pay for this to get wherever it needs to go. Well, you probably want to let the owner know that you were involved in an accident. Let him know. >> He's my very best friend. Oh, good. Okay. All right, so just hang tight. I'll be right back, okay? Yes, ma'am. I'm so sorry. That's accident. People know you know, people happens. >> Can you hurry? Okay. Yes. Mhm. Hey boss, how are you? That's her? Yeah, that's the driver right there. I'll see her. Uh she's all shaken up. Her uh friend attorney is on his way. Hey, how you doing, man? Um You said EMS? Are you good? I'm working. I have to be good. You're working right now? Hello. I got to put this on the windshield because you're not going to be able to verify your insurance. You're not going to be able to verify your uh Her attorney is on her way. That's fine. Yeah. Just tell her. What is she looking for? No idea. We've already got her driver's license here. I'm fine. It's fine. Ma'am, we need you to exit. It's not uh it's not you telling us. We're not taking your word for it. We don't take nobody's word for it. We don't need that. >> I don't need that. I already I already told you she's on her way. >> We just need you to exit in so we know you're good. You just got involved in an accident. It's like 3 >> but my friend is coming. If I go outside, I'm not going to be like so secure and then my friend is coming. >> Secure secure. Yeah, everything is on video and audio recorded. >> I know. Yeah. So, can you exit? I can't. Okay, please do. I'm waiting for you. Can you hold that? What What I'm not holding anything for you. >> in the dashboard. It's fine. No. We are not going to hold anything for you. >> I don't need it anymore. You can put it in the dashboard. It's fine. We just need you to step out. I'm good. Ma'am, we know you're good. We heard you, but you need to step out so we can see if you're good. I'm fine. Okay, I know you're fine, just exit the car then. I'm not going to. I don't have to exit the car. Yes, you do. No, I'm not. >> you a lawful order. You you were you were involved in an accident, you're going to have to or we're going to assist you, make you exit. I'll wait So, you're better off just exiting it. I'll wait for you. Are you going to exit or not? All right, you need to exit. I will be fine. This ma'am, can I help you? Yeah, this is my friend. She texted me. Okay. Oh, let's let's walk over here for a >> Is she okay? Well, we're in a bit of an investigation, DUI investigation right now. She appears that she may have been drinking. Involved in a two-car, three-car accident. Oh. Yeah, that's what the related to this part now. So, we're trying to ask her to step out so we can do a field sobriety test, which she's supposed to do to determine if she is or not. >> Yeah. And she doesn't want to get out, so we're advising her nicely to get out or we're going to have to get physical and remove her out of that car, which is not going to be any good for her. I don't know if you can talk to her and tell her that, you know, just have to step out and listen to our orders. We've been talking to some kind of attorney, a friend of hers Okay. >> And he's been cooperating. He said, "Yeah, just give them you officers driver's license and proof of insurance", which she has now. >> Okay. >> doesn't seem like to exit the vehicle. Okay. So, Do you want me to talk to her? I'm okay, whoever this is. >> going to step out. She said she knows you. She said you texted her. >> friend. She's my friend. Okay, so exit the vehicle then. >> No, I'm not leaving the vehicle. Ma'am, if you don't exit the vehicle, if you don't exit the vehicle, I'm going to help you to exit. And you don't want that. You don't want that. I do. I actually do. Elected official of what? Cook County. Cook County, you elected what which which which office? What's your name? I'm Sam. Sam who? Hey Sarge, it's okay for her friend to tell her to walk out and step out? No, she's saying she's an elected official of Cook County. >> I don't want to be on the video. >> you are on video. I'm on video. You are on video, ma'am. >> Just stand up. So, you need to I'll wait for my attorney. Okay. >> Nope, I'm waiting for my attorney. So, she's not exiting. We're going to have to make her exit and we do. She is not complying right now, as you can see. Does she >> say she's an elected official of something we don't know. Does she need to be compliant at this moment? Of course she does. Well, I mean can she wait can she wait for her attorney? No. Well, regardless of her attorney, she's involved in an accident. You're still lucky. You got to feel the spot. Even if the attorney is here, there's nothing he's going to tell her. She was involved in an accident and we're doing our investigation and obviously she doesn't want to Ma'am. Okay, here's the thing. You were involved in an accident. Correct? So, you're going to have to exit. If you don't exit, then we're going to make you exit. >> by my car. Can you give her a second to call her attorney? So, tell her one second. That's all you have to do. That's the attorney. Tell her you have to exit. Okay, tell her to exit. You need to get out of the car. Yes, do that. That's all you got to do and then wait for me. I'll be there in 10 minutes. I'm waiting for him. Yeah, you got to come out. Get out of the car. Now, be careful what's happening. Stay right here. Stay right here. We don't want you to go out. You're involved in an accident. Okay? It's fine. Now you can hang up the phone, man. No. >> doing our investigation. >> Okay. Now, tell your attorney, hey, since he's on the phone, are you going to do field sobriety test or no? No. Okay. No, what do you >> arrested. You say no? I was waiting for that. I was waiting for that. We were waiting for that. Because she refused. I asked her to do field sobriety test and she refused. And she smell like alcohol. She's been drinking. We can Oh, so you've been recorded all this time. You've been recorded. All right. Okay. >> No, I'm being You want to do field? You want to do field? He's on the here. He can hear you. They're arresting me. She's Okay. I I'll be there in 5 minutes. 5 minutes. He's not going to wait. Let's go. You've been transported. She's not doing the field sobriety test. She's a She's under arrest right now. >> her my purse. Take my purse. Here's the purse. Thank you. I'm not going. Okay. Let's Hold on. Wait. Can he Can he go Can she Can he give him 5 minutes? No, we're not giving him any minutes. She's not doing the field, so we're not going to be uh She was drinking. She struck bunch of cars. Okay? She struck bunch of cars. We're taking you in. Come on, man. Let's go. >> Have a seat, please. No, no, we're not. We're going to seize the car. That's why That's You got Uber. You got taxi. You could have done all of that. Okay, have a seat in the car. Let's go ahead and seize the car. >> Have a seat. Have a seat in the car. Let me get our nurse sign. Have a seat, Vanessa. I can't. All right. You got a small You got a small wrist. No, we have to. No. You want to do the field? You want to do the field? Same. We ask you to do it and you say no. Okay. It's time to see if You're saying I You guys are so nice. This is tight. Oh, I can do a field sobriety test. I do. All right, come on. Give me a chance. This way. Right this way. This way. I'm fine, Sam. And that's exactly what we do. Matthew, sit over here. Okay. Turn this way, please. All right. Sam. Sam, so you wearing a lenses. Yes. You wear glasses. You have them on right now. I contacts. >> see me with that with that? Can you see me with that? Okay, you good? >> I mean, I can kind of see like All right, so now how's your head? You have any injuries? Your head is good? You hit your head? When? When I hit the car. When you hit the car, did you lose I don't know what good means. So, you want a EMS? You want to call an ambulance? Yes. You want us to call an ambulance for you? I'd really like it. Okay, we'll call an ambulance. But I can do a I can do a sobriety You can do it? You sure? Okay. No. So, put put all feet together like this. Yes, I would like it to be an ambulance. Put both feet together. I would like an ambulance. Can you do it? Yes, I can put both feet together. >> Hands together like this? Like You crossed, you know that, right? 38, can we get an ambulance? She wants an ambulance here. We're at the corner of on Ashton, just south of Winnetka. You want to go to the hospital? You're still on the arrest. Okay. All right. Let her know that. No. When I fell I hit my phone to the hospital. I hit my head to the hospital. Do you know which hospital yet? We don't know yet. Whatever the ambulance decides. Not yet. We don't know yet. I'm going to say no. The ambulance is not here yet. We just We just arrested her. It's coming. Okay. All right, good. Okay. Can I come this way? Okay, ma'am. You cannot get too close because she's under arrest. She's supposed to be right now. So, you can't get too close to her. Just for your safety and everybody else, okay? Perfect. Just keep in mind for everybody's safety. Who's the next one? So weird. I'm going to turn off the car. You're okay, too. You're okay, too. 5020 North Anaheim Boulevard. Shoot up off uh partner. She refused, so uh I got to know. Yeah, once we go to the station Station. No, she's going to go to the She She said she want to go to the hospital. >> You want to go to the hospital? No. What do you What do you mean no? We called an ambulance. We just wasted their time. >> Do you want medical attention? We just wasted their time. I want my attorney. I'll just take her in. We should go to the cell. Sir, stand up. Is that Is that heavy, your weight, man? You asked for an ambulance. You wasted these fine people. You just refused them. I want to see the attorney. You got to let her see the attorney. No, but I hold on. You're under arrest. You're under arrest. I'm going to make sure you cuff her. Make sure you cuff her. She has very small wrists. Careful. I'll make it loose. That alcohol smells strong. You put Why would you And it was a bottle It's a half empty. Oh my god. It's half empty. Bottle of wine is half empty, uh, Samantha. >> What? So Oh my god. You guys are She drank it. I mean, it's illegal to drink and drive. It's illegal to have open alcohol in the car. You know? Can I go with you? Oh, there goes the attorney. Saving the day. She's got to have her head up. All right. You got to go ahead. No, I need to see my attorney. That is right there. Right there. Yeah, no. My attorney. Sir, she's been, uh, placed in custody for driving in the influence of alcohol. She struck bunch of vehicles right there. And that's her open bottle of wine in the car. So I didn't drink it. It Yeah. Listen to him. Has she been Has she been Mirandized? No, no, no. No, yet. No, I'm Mirandizing her or nothing. She refused the field, so now we going to take her. She going to She going to go to an ambulance, and then uh they going to go with her. And we still got to do How many cars did she crash into, partner? Two cars. Our car is undrivable. So, we have to tow it from the scene. All right. Yeah, please. Thank you, Sam. Samantha Steel was ultimately placed under arrest for driving under the influence after she called Cook County Commissioner Scott Britton, whom she identified as her attorney, to police. While being checked out of the hospital, Steel mocked an Asian police officer by repeatedly asking him, "Is your penis that small?" in an Asian accent. Despite public outrage and the Chicago Sun-Times editorial board calling for her to step down, Steel has refused to apologize or resign and continues to serve on the influential Board of Review, which handles property tax reviews for Cook County residents. If you enjoyed this video, please like and subscribe via the link provided. We upload new police body cam videos multiple times weekly, and your support enables us to continue to find new and entertaining content.