DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - A Macon County Sheriff's deputy has been placed on leave after he was cited for driving under the influence and accused of leading another deputy on a chase.
The Macon County Sheriff's Office said that on December 15 at 2 a.m., a sheriff's deputy working in Forsyth saw a speeding vehicle headed north on U.S. Route 51.
The sheriff's office said the deputy did not chase the vehicle at first due to the snow and ice-covered road, but followed in the same direction.
Just north of Forsyth the deputy saw the vehicle driving in the center median of US Route 51 and tried to stop it. The sheriff's office said the vehicle refused to stop, exited the median and started going southbound on U.S. Route 51.
The deputy again tried to stop the vehicle when it slid into the median again.
The vehicle was able to again drive out of the median and speed away, going northbound. The sheriff's office said the deputy again chose to not chase at unreasonable speeds due to the road conditions but had already identified the vehicle and potential driver.
Other Macon County deputies found the vehicle, again stuck in a ditch, on Washington Street Road about half a mile west of U.S. Route 51.
There the driver, 31-year-old Andrew Ziegler of Maroa, was taken into custody for speeding and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. He was also held on the suspicion of driving under the influence.
Ziegler has been employed by the Macon County Sheriff's Office since April 2024.
The Illinois State Police was requested to handle the driving under the influence investigation.
Ziegler was ultimately charged with driving under the influence by ISP. He was cited and released with a pending court date.
The sheriff's office said Ziegler was immediately placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation concerning his actions and the resulting criminal and traffic charges.
He is due back in court on February 11 at 8:30 a.m.
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