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Chapter 1: The March 2023 Chicago Crash & Special Prosecutor Findings

Chapter 1: The March 2023 Chicago Crash & Special Prosecutor Findings
Adobe Stock Photo - not actual image of accident

One of the earliest controversies of Commissioner Consuelo Gramarossa's
term involved a March 17, 2023 crash in Chicago while she was driving a
county-owned 2021 Ford Escape. [1]

The incident triggered a criminal investigation, the appointment of a
Special Prosecutor, and a formal written report declining criminal
charges. [2]

This chapter distinguishes between confirmed findings, public
allegations, and prosecutorial conclusions.

The Crash

On March 17, 2023, at approximately 5:45 a.m., Commissioner Gramarossa
rear-ended a vehicle stopped at a red light on Chicago's north side. [3]

The crash resulted in:

  • $6,500 in damage to the other vehicle. [4]
  • At least $18,000 in damage to the county-owned Ford Escape. [5]

Total documented vehicle damage exceeded $24,500.

The stated purpose of the Chicago trip was a family medical emergency
involving her son. [6]

Use of a County Vehicle for a Personal Trip

County policy restricts use of county-owned vehicles to official county
business and limits out-of-county travel unless authorized.

The Special Prosecutor concluded that her use of the vehicle was in
direct conflict with written county policy and beyond the scope of
consent granted by LaPorte County government. [7]

Confirmed: The trip was personal. [8]
Confirmed: The use violated written policy. [9]

Taxpayer Financial Impact

LaPorte County approved a $6,500 settlement to resolve damage to
the other vehicle. [10]

Damage to the county-owned vehicle was reported publicly as at least
$18,000, with the final repair total pending at the time of
release. [11]

While insurance covered part of the loss, public statements assert that
county exposure exceeded policy limits in certain respects, meaning
taxpayers absorbed financial impact. [12]

The trip was personal. [13]
The vehicle use violated policy. [14]
Public funds were used to resolve the resulting damages. [15][16]

The Special Prosecutor also noted concerns regarding the depth of
information shared among decision-makers before fiscal approval of the
claim. [17]

Why No Criminal Charges Were Filed

The Special Prosecutor examined potential charges including Official
Misconduct and Criminal Conversion. [18]

For criminal conversion, prosecutors must prove "unauthorized control."

The report acknowledged:

  • The trip was entirely personal. [19]
  • The use violated policy. [20]
  • An argument could be made that authorized use became unauthorized
    control. [21]

However, the prosecutor concluded it was highly unlikely a jury would
find beyond a reasonable doubt that the control was criminally
unauthorized. [22]

The decision not to prosecute was based on evidentiary standards,
likelihood of acquittal, and prosecutorial discretion. [23]

Declining charges is not equivalent to declaring the conduct
appropriate.

The Forgery Allegation

Separate from the crash, Commissioner Joe Haney alleged that Gramarossa
signed his name to a resolution without authorization. [24]

The Special Prosecutor confirmed she signed another commissioner's name
to a copy of an adopted resolution but found insufficient evidence to
prove criminal intent beyond a reasonable doubt. [25]

No forgery charge was filed. [26]

Commissioner Haney's Public Statement

On May 12, 2023, Commissioner Joe Haney issued a public statement
outlining his account of the crash and alleging concealment and policy
violations. [27]

His statement reported:

  • $6,500 in damage to the other vehicle.
  • At least $18,000 in damage to the county-owned vehicle.
  • That the final repair bill was pending at the time.

These statements are attributed to Commissioner Haney and
contemporaneous reporting. [28]

What the Record Establishes

The official Special Prosecutor's report establishes:

  • A personal, out-of-state trip in a county vehicle. [29]
  • A confirmed violation of written county vehicle policy. [30]
  • A crash resulting in more than $24,500 in vehicle damage. [31][32]
  • A signed name that was not personally signed. [33]
  • No criminal charges filed. [34]

The legal threshold for criminal conviction is high.
The standard for public accountability is separate.

Sources

  1. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  2. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  3. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  4. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  5. Joe Haney, "Commissioner Haney Statement on Connie Gramarossa's
    Chicago Crash," May 12, 2023. https://wimsradio.com/2023/05/12/commissioner-haney-statement-on-connie-gramarossas-chicago-crash/ ↩︎

  6. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  7. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  8. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  9. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  10. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  11. Joe Haney, "Commissioner Haney Statement on Connie Gramarossa's
    Chicago Crash," May 12, 2023. https://wimsradio.com/2023/05/12/commissioner-haney-statement-on-connie-gramarossas-chicago-crash/ ↩︎

  12. Joe Haney, "Commissioner Haney Statement on Connie Gramarossa's
    Chicago Crash," May 12, 2023. https://wimsradio.com/2023/05/12/commissioner-haney-statement-on-connie-gramarossas-chicago-crash/ ↩︎

  13. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  14. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  15. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  16. Joe Haney, "Commissioner Haney Statement on Connie Gramarossa's
    Chicago Crash," May 12, 2023. https://wimsradio.com/2023/05/12/commissioner-haney-statement-on-connie-gramarossas-chicago-crash/ ↩︎

  17. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  18. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  19. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  20. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  21. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  22. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  23. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  24. Joe Haney, "Commissioner Haney Statement on Connie Gramarossa's
    Chicago Crash," May 12, 2023. https://wimsradio.com/2023/05/12/commissioner-haney-statement-on-connie-gramarossas-chicago-crash/ ↩︎

  25. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  26. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  27. Joe Haney, "Commissioner Haney Statement on Connie Gramarossa's
    Chicago Crash," May 12, 2023. https://wimsradio.com/2023/05/12/commissioner-haney-statement-on-connie-gramarossas-chicago-crash/ ↩︎

  28. Joe Haney, "Commissioner Haney Statement on Connie Gramarossa's
    Chicago Crash," May 12, 2023. https://wimsradio.com/2023/05/12/commissioner-haney-statement-on-connie-gramarossas-chicago-crash/ ↩︎

  29. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  30. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  31. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  32. Joe Haney, "Commissioner Haney Statement on Connie Gramarossa's
    Chicago Crash," May 12, 2023. https://wimsradio.com/2023/05/12/commissioner-haney-statement-on-connie-gramarossas-chicago-crash/ ↩︎

  33. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

  34. E. Nelson Chipman Jr., Court Accepted Report of Special
    Prosecutor    , September 18, 2023.
    PDF ↩︎

Court accepted Report of SP
Special Prosecutor File
Court accepted Report of SP.pdf
14 MB
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