Riverside DUI Suspect Has Political Ties

La Grange IL

23 April, 2021

10:23 AM

Description

RIVERSIDE, IL — A man who police alleged dropped the name of his town's mayor while being arrested has been involved in politics. Ahkeem Henderson, 45, of Broadview, was arrested on DUI and other charges earlier this week. Police said he urged them to call Broadview's mayor to help him avoid arrest. In March 2020, Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson nominated Henderson to serve on the village's Zoning Board of Appeals. The board unanimously appointed him. His term lasts until next March. In the April 2017 election, Henderson was among nine candidates for three seats on the Broadview Village Board. He finished seventh. About 8:30 p.m. Sunday, a Riverside officer saw Henderson run a red light at Ogden Avenue and Gage Road, going 51 mph in a 30 mph zone and weaving over lane markers, according to a news release. During the traffic stop, Henderson told the officer that he was coming from a volunteer program for Broadview's mayor. He invoked the mayor as well as his brother-in-law, who he said was a Chicago police officer, in his attempts to avoid arrest, the release said. The officer refused Henderson's requests to call the mayor and his in-law. Henderson then failed roadside sobriety tests, according to the release. While checking on Henderson's driver's license, police found it was revoked for DUI convictions in 2014 and 2018 and numerous offenses for driving on a revoked license, police said. "Mr. Henderson could barely stand," Police Chief Tom Weitzel said in the news release. "He was stumbling and losing his balance the entire time he was in police custody as his intoxication level was severe. There is no question he was an extreme danger to other motorists on the roadway."