DUI Charges: Channahon Firefighter-Paramedic Kurt Liebermann

CHANNAHON, IL — Kurt Liebermann, a 36-year-old longtime member of the Channahon Fire Protection District, has had his driving privileges taken away after Channahon police officers arrested him two weeks ago, Will County court records show.

On Wednesday, Joliet Patch reached out to Channahon Fire Chief John Petrakis for comment about Liebermann's employment status in light of his Jan. 18 DUI arrest. In 2020, the Channahon Fire Protection District posted an announcement on Facebook, thanking Liebermann for 15 years of service at that time.

"Due to the situation you reference being a personnel issue of the fire district, I cannot comment on his current status as an employee or anything pertaining to this matter as it currently under inquiry," Petrakis responded in an email.

At the Will County Courthouse, Liebermann faces charges of driving under the influence alcohol, illegal transportation of alcohol in a motor vehicle, improper lane use and failure to signal when required.

According to court records, Liebermann was pulled over around 8:10 p.m. on Jan. 18 while driving his black 2015 Chevrolet truck along Route 6 and Silver Leaf Circle, which is close to his home on South River Trail. He was off-duty at the time of the traffic stop by Channahon police.

The Channahon officer's incident summary states that police received an initial call of an intoxicated person at the Lallos Bar & Grill & Family Restaurant off Route 6 and West Reed Street. The caller advised Channahon police that the intoxicated person left in a black pickup truck.

The officer's report showed he pulled over the truck after observing traffic violations.

Liebermann "had bloodshot glassy eyes, strong odor of alcohol on breath, subject performed and failed" standardized field sobriety testing, according to the report.

The time of Liebermann's arrest was 8:46 p.m. He refused to submit to any alcohol breath tests, the police report indicated.

Liebermann refused to sign the documents furnished by the officer notifying him that his driving privileges will be suspended for a minimum of one year, according to court documents in his case.
Liebermann did surrender his driver's license, which was valid at the time of his DUI arrest.

Liebermann's next appearance at the Will County Courthouse is set for March 2.