Meat Market Owner Charged With Drug Possession, Fleeing Police

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — Keith William Walger, the owner of Dorfler's Meat Market in Buffalo Grove, is accused of possessing controlled substances and fleeing police, among other charges, following a May 16 arrest in Buffalo Grove.

Walger, 51, of the 0-100 block of Downing Road in Buffalo Grove, was found in felony possession of 19 Hydrocodone pills (schedule 2 controlled substance) and 13 Diazepam pills (schedule 4 controlled substance) when arrested at 10:13 p.m. at the intersection of Buffalo Grove Drive and University Drive, police said. In addition, he was charged with fleeing police (Class A) and speeding 30-39 miles over the speed limit (Class B).

A Buffalo Grove police officer stationed at the Dun-El shopping center, at Dundee Road and Ellen, clocked a car, later determined to be driven by Walger, at 72 mph in a 35-mph zone, traveling eastbound. Attempts to pull Walger over were unsuccessful until he parked his car in the driveway of his home on Downing Road, according to the officer.

The officer pulled his gun on Walger, who took off his jacket and ignored commands to get on the ground, according to police. The officer holstered the weapon and drew his Taser, continuing to order Walger to the ground. The officer observed an odor of alcoholic beverage on Walger's breath and slurred speech. Walger told the officer he had some drinks earlier in the evening. As Walger still refused to go to the ground, additional officers were called to the scene and an arrest was made.

Walger refused to submit to a sobriety test and preliminary breath test.

He appeared in bond court on May 17.

UPDATE: The Cook County State's Attorney's Office told Patch that all charges were dropped and the case was dismissed based on "our decision to not prosecute low level drug offenses during the COVID-19 pandemic." According to spokesperson Tandra Simonton, prosecutors can review the remaining charges (fleeing the police and speeding 30-39 mph over the speed limit) if the police request to have those charges reinstated.

The above information comes from the Buffalo Grove Police Department and court records as a record of incidents reported to police and those arrested on criminal charges, which represent accusations by the state that are often dropped or reduced. Updated information may be available from the Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Everyone arrested is presumed to be innocent unless found guilty in court beyond a reasonable doubt.