Lieutenant arrested after overnight stop
A Springfield police lieutenant was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol after an Illinois State Police traffic stop, according to state police and the Springfield Police Department.
The driver, identified by Illinois State Police as 35-year-old Charles B. Peters, was stopped while driving a Toyota SUV near Chatham Road and Fayette Avenue. The traffic stop occurred at about 12:26 a.m. Oct. 24, state police said. Peters was then arrested on a DUI charge.
The arrest places the case under scrutiny because Peters is a lieutenant in the same department responsible for policing Springfield. The available information does not describe the original traffic violation that led to the stop, nor does it provide details about any chemical testing, field sobriety testing, court appearance or alleged alcohol level.
Department response
The Springfield Police Department said Peters was on pre-approved time off when the department learned of his arrest. The department said he will be placed on administrative leave once that approved time off concludes.
Administrative leave, as described in the department’s announcement, is the employment action planned for Peters after his current time off ends. The information provided does not state whether the leave will be paid or unpaid, how long it will last or whether Peters has been relieved of police powers in the meantime.
The department also said it has opened an internal affairs investigation. That inquiry is separate from the DUI case arising from the state police traffic stop. The department did not disclose who will conduct the internal investigation or identify any additional allegations against Peters.
What is known about the case
| Detail | Information released |
|---|---|
| Driver | Charles B. Peters, 35 |
| Position | Lieutenant with the Springfield Police Department |
| Vehicle | Toyota SUV |
| Location | Near Chatham Road and Fayette Avenue |
| Stop time | About 12:26 a.m. Oct. 24 |
| Charge | Driving under the influence of alcohol |
| Investigations | Illinois State Police arrest and Springfield internal affairs review |
The source information contains a chronology issue: It says the department learned of Peters’ arrest on Oct. 23, while Illinois State Police said the traffic stop and arrest occurred on Oct. 24. No explanation for that discrepancy was provided. The dates are reported as released, and the available account does not establish whether one of them was misstated.
Investigations remain pending
The criminal allegation will proceed through the appropriate legal process, while the police department’s internal affairs investigation will examine the matter under departmental procedures. The available report does not say whether prosecutors have filed a formal case in court or whether a future court date has been scheduled.
An arrest is an allegation, not a finding of guilt. Peters’ arrest on the DUI charge does not by itself establish that he committed the offense. Any final determination will depend on the criminal process and the evidence considered in that case. The internal affairs review may address employment and policy questions separately from the criminal allegation.
The department said it would not comment further until the internal investigation is complete. That means officials have not publicly released additional information about the circumstances of the stop, Peters’ current work status beyond his approved time off, or possible disciplinary action.
What residents can expect next
The next developments are likely to come from the two separate tracks now underway: the DUI case handled through the state’s criminal justice system and the Springfield Police Department’s internal review. Possible updates could include additional court information, a formal statement about the start of administrative leave or the department’s findings once the internal investigation concludes.
- Illinois State Police made the traffic stop and announced the arrest.
- Springfield police said Peters will go on administrative leave after his approved time off ends.
- The department has opened an internal affairs investigation and said it will withhold further comment until that review is finished.
For now, the confirmed public information is limited to the reported traffic stop, Peters’ arrest on a DUI charge, the department’s planned administrative action and the opening of the internal investigation. No conclusion about Peters’ guilt or his ultimate employment status has been announced.
