Police report sheds more light on DUI arrest of Springfield police sergeant

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - A police report is shedding more details about a Springfield police sergeant who was arrested for driving under the influence in Chatham.

According to a post on the City's transparency page, Chatham police arrested Sgt. Lindzee Carpenter on July 4.

The City said that Carpenter was immediately stripped of her police powers and placed on administrative leave.

The Springfield Police Department has launched an internal affairs investigation.

A police report states an officer on stationary patrol on State Rt. 4 saw a Hyundai Sonata make a wide right turn from County Rd. to State Rt. 4 just before 2 a.m.

The officer described the turn as "abnormally wide," and he turned behind the vehicle. The officer said it swerved towards the center lines but did not cross. "The vehicle then returned to the center of its lane, then swerved towards the right solid shoulder line, then crossed the shoulder line. After this violation,

I conducted a traffic stop," the officer said. Another officer stopped with him to help. "I made a passenger side approach and identified myself as a Chatham Police Officer. I advised the driver, Lindzee N. Carpenter, the reason for the stop (Improper lane usage). I asked Lindzee for her license and proof of insurance. While speaking with Lindzee, I could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from the vehicle and she had slowed/slurred speech," the report said.

The officer said Lindzee handed over a Springfield Police Detective identification card and two different credit cards when asked for a drivers license.

The officer said there was an unopened pack of SuperLyte alcoholic beverage on the back left seat floorboard.

When asked for vehicle registration information, officers said Lindzee handed over the same Springfield Police identification which was expired in 2024.

Lindzee was asked to step out of the vehicle. Officers said she stumbled as she walked to the back of the car and stumbled onto the rear right side vehicle and then leaned against it.

"I asked Lindzee where she was coming from tonight and she said, 'I am not gonna answer that,'" the officer said in the report." As I was about to ask her how many alcoholic beverages, she had tonight, but she said, 'I’m

either going to my house or I’m not going to my house.' I asked Lindzee what she meant by that. She said, 'I’m either going to my house or not going to my house.' I then asked what she meant by that again. She said, 'I’m either going to my house or I’m not.' I asked her why she would say that and she said, 'So you answer that for me.' I said, 'Huh' because I did not understand

what she meant. She then repeated, 'You answer that for me.' I asked Lindzee if she had anything to drink tonight and she said no. I then asked her where the alcoholic beverages on her rear floorboard were from and she said, 'Don’t know what you’re talking about.' I then stated, 'The SuperLytes,' and she said, 'Don’t

know what you’re talking about.' I said, 'Well they’re in your car.' She said, 'Mhm.' I then asked, 'You’re not aware of what’s in your car?' Lindzee said, 'Nope.'"

"I told Lindzee I was curious where she was coming from and she just shook her head and said, 'K.' I asked Lindzee why she was not wanting to talk. She said, 'I’m ready either to go home or not go home.' I asked her again what she meant by that statement. She said, 'You tell me.' She then said, 'I’m asking you, am I free to leave or am I not free to leave?' I said I was trying to talk to

her right now. She then said, 'I’m asking you, am I free to leave?' I said not right now."

"I asked Lindzee again if she had anything to drink tonight and she said, 'No I have not.' I asked her if she would be willing to do a couple tests to make sure and she said, 'No, not, no.' I asked, 'Why’s that?' Lindzee just shook her head. I asked Lindzee if I could just look at her eyes real quick and she said, 'No. I’m either under arrest or not under arrest.' I asked, 'For what?' She said, 'You tell me.' I then asked why she was bringing up arrest and she reiterated, 'You

tell me.' I said, 'You’re the one who brought it up.' She said, 'Because I’m an officer, am I under arrest? You, I’m asking (Stutters) that’s a question, am I under arrest?' I said, 'Not right now, you’re not in cuffs.' Lindzee said, 'Okay,' then started walking toward the driver side door. I asked Lindzee where

she was going and she stated, 'You said, you said I’m not under arrest.' I said not right now."

The other officer told Lindzee she was also not free to leave and explained they were in the middle of a roadside investigation. "Lindzee said, “Okay,” and walked back to the rear of the vehicle and leaned her back against the car. I advised Lindzee that, based on her driving, the way she was talking, and the aforementioned cards she handed me on my initial approach, that I had reason to believe she was under the influence of alcohol. I then asked if she was willing to prove to me otherwise and she shook her head then said no."

The officers asked Lindzee if she had anyone who could come pick her up and she said she did. They told her she could get back in her car to call people for help.

Officers said they searched Lindzee's information and found she was still employed by the Springfield Police Department and was also a Sergeant.

One officer noticed Lindzee's brake light had activated. As they approached the vehicle, they said she rolled the window down a couple of inches, then halfway, before rolling it down all the way.

She told them someone was coming and they were not far away. 15 seconds later, police said Lindzee began to drive into the roadway. "I then pulled out behind her with (the other officer) following me and I activated my siren while advising Chatham dispatch that the car was leaving the stop. When she was

driving away, her vehicles right side tires were driving on the solid shoulder line for approximately 200 feet. She then returned to the center of her lane and then began swerving again. At this point, we were up to the 50MPH speed limit. 25 seconds later, Lindzee had still not pulled over. At this time, I realized my front emergency lights were not engaged, so I activated them immediately. As soon as I did this, Lindzee pulled over her vehicle."

The officers told her to get out and placed her under arrest at 2:22 a.m.

"I asked Lindzee why she drove off and it sounded like she said, 'You told me that I could.'"

Lindzee was taken to the Chatham Police Department to complete DUI

processing.

Officers had her vehicle towed and said they found vomit on the outer driver side door.

Police said Lindzee refused an evidentiary breath sample. She was issued citations for driving under the influence of alcohol and improper lane usage.

Lindzee was picked up by a coworker from the Police Department.