McHenry County States Attorney Reviewing Allegations Against Undersheriff

A judge has given the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office one week to consider a McHenry County Sheriff sergeant's request that a special prosecutor investigate his allegations against Undersheriff Andrew Zinke, the Northwest Herald reports.

Sherrif's Department Sgt. John Koziol filed documents Tuesday alleging Zinke jeopardized a federal drug investigation when he tipped off the owner of RITA Corp. and his friend, Brian Goode, that his company was under investigation by the DEA. Koziol claims the DEA case involved the transportation of thousands of pounds of marijuana, the Northwest Herald article states.

RITA Corp is located at 850 S. Route 31 right next door to the Northwest Herald headquarters in Crystal Lake.

Goode is a member of the Sheriff’s Department’s Merit Commission, and his company has contributed to the campaigns of Sheriff Keith Nygren, who plans to retire after his current term is up, and more recently, Zinke, the story states. RITA also is listed as the address for Zinke’s political campaign committee.

In response to the accusations, Zinke said Koziol is a disgruntled employee who recently was transferred out of a position in the narcotics unit to patrol, according to the Herald.