A 42-year-old North Chicago police officer faces weapons and drunken-driving charges after he was accused of firing a gun outside his brother’s Beach Park home while under the influence of alcohol, officials said.
Cmdr. Donald N. Thivierge is accused of driving to his brother’s home in the 37000 block of North Avenue, Beach Park, shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday, where he allegedly yelled obscenities outside and fired four shots in the air, said Matthew Chancey, chief of felony review for the Lake County state’s attorney’s office.
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When Thivierge began to hit a punching bag in the back yard, his brother tackled and disarmed him, Chancey said.
Thivierge was on administrative leave from his job as head of criminal investigations at the North Chicago Police Department, Chancey said. Thivierge’s leave was related to an investigation of missing evidence in a North Chicago drug case. Calls to the Police Department Monday were not returned.
Thivierge is charged with possession of a weapon without a valid firearm owner’s identification card, reckless discharge of a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and driving while intoxicated, Chancey said.
Thivierge was being held Monday afternoon in Lake County Jail in lieu of $15,000 bond.