Nov. 29--The Lake County sheriff's lieutenant who reportedly pulled over a school bus while off-duty to "issue his son his lunch" has been disciplined for violating his department's regulations, Undersheriff Ray Rose said.
Lt. Brian Keller used his unmarked black Dodge Charger with emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop outside his jurisdiction, at McCullom Lake and Ringwood roads in Johnsburg in McHenry County, according to a Nov. 13 police report filed by the bus driver.
"The apparent purpose of the stop was to issue his son his lunch for the day," according to the report, which identified Keller as a deputy sheriff in Lake County. "The complainant was advised that documentation would be made, however, she needed to contact (the Lake County Sheriff's Office) regarding the incident."
The sheriff's office received an anonymous complaint about the incident the next day, Rose said in a written statement. He declined to release details about disciplinary action taken against Keller, citing confidentiality concerning personnel matters.
The complaint "is supported by a police report completed by Johnsburg Police Department alleging an incident that Lieutenant Brian Keller stopped a loaded school bus while he was off-duty, and was not conducting official duties as a Lake County Sheriff's Deputy," the statement reads.
"The administrative investigation identified violations of certain Rules and Regulations of the Lake County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff has taken the appropriate disciplinary and corrective action commensurate with the rules violations."
Keller, a former chief in the sheriff's department who reported directly to Sheriff Mark Curran, only recently returned to work with a new job title as a lieutenant working in court security, Rose confirmed.
Keller could not be reached for comment.
The bus was headed to Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock, about 9 miles from where the bus was pulled over.
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