Updated: Wednesday, 19 May 2010, 7:22 PM CDT
Published : Tuesday, 18 May 2010, 9:23 PM CDT
By Craig Wall, FOX Chicago News
Steger, Ill. - A Steger mother whose son was killed in a drunk driving accident is blaming police for allowing her boyfriend to get behind the wheel of the car. She says she warned the officer that Cecil Conner had been drinking that night.
In an emotional news conference Tuesday, Kathie LaFond talked about the events that led up to her son's death. She said she was pulled over while driving her boyfriend Cecil Conner home from a party. She went to get him because he had been drinking. In the back seat of her car was her five-year-old son Michael Langford, buckled in a child seat.
LaFond said the Chicago Heights Police officer arrested her for driving on a suspended license. She was handcuffed and put in the back of the squad car.
"I told them that my son was sleeping in the backseat and I wanted to take my baby home, and then I told him that Cecil was drinking," she said. But she claims the officer did not listen to her concerns about her son.
"He said, 'Don't worry about it,' that he would make sure that my son got home," LaFond said.
Instead, the unidentified officer gave the keys to Conner, who headed home. Forty minutes later, police say, he crashed into a tree in Steger, killing Michael.
Conner is now charged with aggravated DUI.
LaFond has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Conner and the Chicago Heights Police.
LaFond's attorney said she did nothing wrong.
"I believe she did anything that any parent would do including myself," said attorney Mark Horwitz. "I think the police officer derogated his duty to the small child, to Michael, and Michael paid the the ultimate consequences, life, because of that police officer's overzealous personality and need to get an arrest."
Chicago Heights Police Chief Michael Camilli defended his officer's actions.
"Ms. LaFond made no statements to the officer that would have or should have indicated that Cecil Conner was in any way impaired," Camilli said.
