Judge orders electronic monitoring for man charged in fatal Lakeview hit-and-run crash

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A man charged in a deadly weekend hit-and-run crash in Lakeview was placed on electronic monitoring instead of being detained while awaiting trial, a decision Cook County prosecutors say jeopardizes public safety.

Prosecutors allege Miroslaw Ciszek struck and killed 25-year-old Sarah Milcarek as she was crossing the 1400 block of Irving Park Road on foot. According to prosecutors, Ciszek was driving at a high rate of speed when he hit Milcarek, throwing her into the air and into the vehicle's rear windshield.

Authorities said Ciszek continued driving after the collision and later crashed into another vehicle that was stopped at a red light at Ashland Avenue. The car eventually came to rest wrapped around a tree, and prosecutors say Ciszek fled the scene.

Police arrested Ciszek a few hours later. He was charged with aggravated DUI causing a fatal accident, leaving the scene of a fatal accident and other DUI-related offenses.

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Cook County State's Attorney Eileen Burke argued Ciszek should be detained pending trial, citing concerns about public safety.

"The blood alcohol level was at such an extent that seven hours after the incident he was still over the legal limit. That's a danger to the public," Burke said.

Despite the prosecution's request, Cook County Judge D'Anthony Thedford ordered Ciszek placed on electronic monitoring and instructed him "Not to drink excessively."

Burke criticized the decision and raised broader concerns about the county's use of electronic monitoring.

"What we are seeing is very violent people being placed on electronic monitoring," Burke said.

According to Burke, as of July 3, 78 people charged with murder or attempted murder were on electronic monitoring, along with 161 people charged with sex crimes.

Burke said electronic monitoring was originally intended for people who did not pose a threat to public safety.

"Electronic monitoring came about when jails were overcrowded, and this was a mechanism to get people who did not present a danger out of jail," she said.

She also pointed to what she described as structural problems within the system.

"One of the other structural problems with electronic monitoring is that people get day for day credit, meaning they are treated the same as if they are sitting in custody," Burke said.

The Cook County Public Defender's Office defended the judge's decision in the Ciszek case, noting that Ciszek has no major prior arrests or convictions.

In a statement, the office said: "The judge determined that jailing our client while the case is pending was not necessary, which was the right decision. Pretrial incarceration leads to loss of employment, housing instability, and other harms that hurt public safety."

Judge Thedford, who ordered Ciszek placed on electronic monitoring, is up for re-election in November.

A funeral for Milcarek is scheduled for Saturday in New Lenox.

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