The LaSalle County State’s Attorney’s Office declined to say whether it’s investigating a drug-forfeiture task force.
Current State’s Attorney Karen Donnelly filed a lawsuit alleging that her predecessor “criminally misused public money” under the SAFE task force. This group was run by predecessor Brian Towne’s office but later disbanded after Donnelly was elected earlier this year.
The suit claims Towne didn’t have the authority to pass more than $570,000 to the Spring Valley police, and that he spent more than half the funds on trips and personal wi-fi. Some out-of-state travelers allege that SAFE singled them out for asset seizure, rather than its stated purpose of curbing drug crime.
Contacted by WNIJ, Donnelly said her office doesn’t comment on investigations. Currently, Towne works as a special prosecutor for the Illinois appellate prosecutor’s office.