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Booter Charged With Taking Bribe For Not Towing Car, City Watchdog Says

By Ted Cox | April 18, 2016 5:29pm
 A city booter took a bribe to keep a car from being towed.
A city booter took a bribe to keep a car from being towed.
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The Expired Meter.com

CITY HALL — A city "booter" has been charged with bribery for taking money in exchange for not having a car towed.

According to the quarterly report issued Monday by Inspector General Joe Ferguson, Finance Department employee Leon Brown, a city booter, was indicted last month on a bribery charge after a joint investigation with the Cook County state's attorney's office.

The investigation charged that Brown "solicited and received money from a civilian in exchange for not towing the vehicle driven by the civilian," according to the report.

"The Department of Finance takes these allegations seriously," Comptroller Dan Widawsky said. "We have zero tolerance for such behavior and continuously work to improve management and oversight of our personnel to protect motorists from these types of incidents. The department cooperated with the Office of the Inspector General during their investigation of this employee, and we appreciate their ongoing work to investigate any allegations of impropriety on behalf of residents."

The Emanuel administration, though, said there is due process to be followed before disciplinary action can be pursued, and it can't issue punishment just from an arrest, although it's considering evidence presented by the inspector general. For now, Brown is being paired with another booter while working.

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