District 87 school board member Fitzgerald Samedy faces felony drunk driving and other charges following his weekend arrest in Bloomington.
Bloomington Police arrested Samedy, 35, at a traffic stop shortly after 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the 100 block of South Evergreen Lane, and booked him on aggravated DUI charges. Samedy also is charged with drunk driving on a revoked license.
When he was stopped, police said Samedy had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and glassy eyes, along with slowed movements and slurred speech.
Prosecutors also are seeking obstruction of justice charges, alleging Samedy refused to take a breathalyzer test.
Samedy and District 87 officials have not immediately responded to requests for comment.
Court records show Samedy's driver's license was revoked in 2019, following a conviction for driving on a suspended license. He was convicted last July of driving on a revoked license and was given two years conditional discharge. Samedy has two prior drunk driving convictions on his record — in Cook County in 2009 and 2016.
Samedy posted $1,000 bond on Monday and was released from custody, following an initial court appearance in which he appeared via video feed from the McLean County Jail. Samedy is due back in court for a hearing on May 27.
Samedy was elected to a four-year term on the District 87school board in April 2021.
District 87 Superintendent Barry Reilly said Samedy informed staff on Tuesday that he had a family emergency and was going to miss Tuesday's special meeting to interview candidates for a replacement for school board member Tammy Houtzel, along with Wednesday's regularly scheduled meeting.
Reilly said Samedy remains on the school board and his fate is not for Reilly to decide, but he said he hopes Samedy provides an explanation soon.
"He's going to have to be the one to answer questions from the public," Reilly said.
Anyone convicted of a felony is barred from holding elected office in Illinois.
Samedy has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
