Intoxicated Burr Ridge Cop In Police Car: Report

BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge's deputy police chief, who was attending training in Virginia, was in his police car when state troopers arrested him in April on a charge of drunken driving, authorities said.

Through a public records request to Burr Ridge police, Patch obtained the full report of Deputy Chief Ryan Husarik's arrest in Virginia. Husarik could not be reached for comment.

Police said a breath test showed that his blood-alcohol level was 2½ times the legal limit in Virginia, which has the same limit as Illinois.

In the early evening of April 13, a driver called police about a possible drunken driver in a Ford Explorer in Dumfries, Virginia, a Washington suburb, according to the report.

A Virginia state trooper said in his report that he witnessed Husarik swerve over lines and press on the brakes repeatedly for no reason. Then Husarik drifted over the yellow line into oncoming traffic on a state highway, the trooper said.

The trooper pulled over Husarik in the Tasty Kabob parking lot. The trooper said he could tell it was an unmarked police car, a fact that the Burr Ridge Police Department confirmed with Patch.

When Husarik pulled down the window, the trooper detected a strong odor of alcohol and said Husarik slurred his words and struggled to answer questions, according to the report.

Asked whether he was a police officer, Husarik, who makes $150,000 a year, confirmed he was and identified his department. He said he was attending the FBI Academy near Quantico, which was about 10 miles away, police said.

Husarik acknowledged he had just gone to a casino and gotten lost finding his way back to the academy, where he was staying, the report said.

During physical testing, Husarik swayed and was unsteady on his feet, police said.

At first, Husarik refused to take a preliminary breath test. For a second time, the trooper explained the test could not be used in court. Husarik then consented.

His result was .21, considerably above Virginia's limit of .08, the report said.

Police found two small bottles of Smirnoff in the left pocket of Husarik's cargo shorts, while a gold MGM casino card was in his right pocket, the report said.

In his trunk were two bottles of Evan Williams whiskey, a bottle of New Amsterdam vodka and a bottle of Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, police said. All the bottles were reported as half empty.

Husarik's department-issued rifle was locked in a lockbox in the trunk, police said.

Troopers took Husarik to the Prince William County Jail, where he repeatedly refused to undergo a breathalyzer test. Such a test can be used in court in Virginia, as opposed to one on the side of the road

When asked how much he had to drink, Husarik declined to answer, police said. He later said his last drink was a "couple of hours ago" and that he left the casino "40 minutes ago," according to the report.

Husarik was required to stay at the jail until he sobered up and somebody could pick him up.

Husarik, a Lemont resident, faces a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated. He was charged with a civil violation of refusing a blood or breath test. The matter is pending in Prince William General District Court.

Court records indicate Husarik was arrested on his birthday.

When Patch contacted Burr Ridge police last week, they confirmed Husarik has been arrested on a DUI charge in Virginia. Police Chief John Madden said Husarik was suspended without pay for 40 duty days.

Burr Ridge records say Husarik's leave is from June 3 to July 26. He has surrendered his department-issued weapon, badge, facility access card, official department identification card, and department vehicle, according to the police chief's suspension order.

A copy of the order was given to all department personnel, the chief said.

Madden said last week that Husarik is serving a 48-month probationary and monitoring period with the department.

Husarik was promoted to deputy chief in 2022. He has been with the department for about two decades.

The 730-mile road trip from Burr Ridge to the FBI Academy takes about 12 hours.