Principal Arrested In Elmhurst On DUI Charge

ELMHURST, IL – A Darien principal was arrested earlier this month in Elmhurst on a DUI charge, telling an officer she was coming home from a work function, police said.

Emily Lech, 40, of Elmhurst, was also cited on charges of improper lane use and speeding. An officer said she almost crashed while making a turn.

Through a public records request, Patch obtained the full police report.

She started the school year as principal of Darien's Elizabeth Ide Elementary School, which is part of Center Cass School District 66.

In a statement to Patch, Superintendent Andrew Wise said the district was aware of Lech's arrest and her pending legal issues. He said she continues to serve as principal.

Wise cited the state Human Rights Act, which he said bars an employer from disciplining or firing an employee based solely on an arrest. A person, he noted, is presumed innocent until found guilty.

"We will continue to monitor Ms. Lech’s personal legal issues in case future developments warrant a different response from the District," Wise said in the statement.

About 10 p.m. Feb. 1, an officer saw Lech's car drift over the white line on North Avenue, according to the report. The officer turned on his emergency lights. Lech stopped in her driveway in the 300 block of North Maple Avenue.

Lech told the officer that she was an elementary school principal and that she was coming from a work function at Cooper's Hawk in Burr Ridge, police said. In an email to Patch on Thursday morning, Lech said, "That information was misinterpreted. I was not at a work event." She had not returned Patch's previous messages for comment.

Lech had trouble finding proof of her insurance on her phone, repeatedly asking to call her husband to come outside the house, the report said. The officer declined her request because he did not want more people at the traffic stop, police said.

When first asked how much she had to drink, Lech said she had one glass of wine, police said. Later she said she had two glasses of wine within three hours, with her last drink about two hours earlier, police said.

Lech slurred her words as she spoke to the officer, the report said.

Asked whether she was fine to be driving, she said, "It's always safer to get a ride," police said.

Lech was arrested, and her car was towed away.

In his statement, Superintendent Wise appeared to disagree with Lech on one statement she made to the police.

"I cannot comment on what Ms. Lech may or may not have said to police officers, but the District has not and does not hold events at Cooper’s Hawk," Wise said.