Post by WaTcHeR on Aug 16, 2006 17:28:18 GMT -5
08.16.2006 - PEORIA - A Peoria police officer faces reckless homicide charges for allegedly operating a boat under the influence of alcohol and crashing into a barge two months ago.
The crash killed one of his passengers.
Officer Troy Parker, 35, was indicted on three counts of reckless homicide and four counts of aggravated operating a watercraft under the influence of alcohol.
Parker was arrested late Tuesday afternoon at Peoria Police Headquarters by officers of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and an investigator with the Peoria County State's Attorney's Office.
His bond was set at $100,000, though he later posted the required $10,000 bail and was released from the Peoria County Jail. If convicted, he could face prison time and large fines.
Parker, a five-year veteran of the department, is now on unpaid leave. Prior to the indictments, he was on paid leave.
Parker, who was off-duty, was driving his 25-foot speed boat about 1 a.m. June 15 when it slammed almost head-on into a barge moored on the Peoria side of the river across from Creve Coeur. He suffered a head injury, but has since been released from the hospital.
Damon Teverbaugh, 43, of Peoria, another occupant in the boat, died the day after the crash from his injuries. Tammy Warnke, 35, of East Peoria suffered head and lung injuries and remains hospitalized in fair condition.
Officials have indicated the barge was properly lit. Beer bottles and cans were found inside the boat, sources have said, but until Tuesday it was not clear what role alcohol played in the crash.
Peoria Police Chief Steven Settingsgaard has said he would decide on any disciplinary action against Parker independent of what the DNR or the State's Attorney's Office did. A felony conviction, however, would require Parker to be removed from his job.
www.pjstar.com/stories/081606/TRI_BAMG4SCO.060.shtml
The crash killed one of his passengers.
Officer Troy Parker, 35, was indicted on three counts of reckless homicide and four counts of aggravated operating a watercraft under the influence of alcohol.
Parker was arrested late Tuesday afternoon at Peoria Police Headquarters by officers of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and an investigator with the Peoria County State's Attorney's Office.
His bond was set at $100,000, though he later posted the required $10,000 bail and was released from the Peoria County Jail. If convicted, he could face prison time and large fines.
Parker, a five-year veteran of the department, is now on unpaid leave. Prior to the indictments, he was on paid leave.
Parker, who was off-duty, was driving his 25-foot speed boat about 1 a.m. June 15 when it slammed almost head-on into a barge moored on the Peoria side of the river across from Creve Coeur. He suffered a head injury, but has since been released from the hospital.
Damon Teverbaugh, 43, of Peoria, another occupant in the boat, died the day after the crash from his injuries. Tammy Warnke, 35, of East Peoria suffered head and lung injuries and remains hospitalized in fair condition.
Officials have indicated the barge was properly lit. Beer bottles and cans were found inside the boat, sources have said, but until Tuesday it was not clear what role alcohol played in the crash.
Peoria Police Chief Steven Settingsgaard has said he would decide on any disciplinary action against Parker independent of what the DNR or the State's Attorney's Office did. A felony conviction, however, would require Parker to be removed from his job.
www.pjstar.com/stories/081606/TRI_BAMG4SCO.060.shtml