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Former Springfield Police Sergeant Michael Egan Charged After Car Crash

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A former police sergeant with the Springfield Police Department has been officially arrested after he was involved in an accident last week that seriously injured two people.

Michael A. Egan, 50, was charged with aggravated assault while under the influence of alcohol, a Class 4 felony. Authorities said Egan's vehicle was traveling north on East Lake Shore Drive and turned left in front of a motorcycle, which crashed into Egan's SUV.

Egan was taken into custody by Illinois State Police and U.S. Marshals at around 12:45 p.m. Monday.

Egan will make his first appearance in Sangamon County on Tuesday afternoon.

A Springfield Police lieutenant on scene Thursday contacted ISP regarding the traffic accident and subsequent drunk driving investigation.

ISP agents obtained search warrants to collect evidence from Egan, including a blood sample that was processed by the ISP's Forensic Services Division. ​ ISP agents then presented the evidence to the Sangamon County District Attorney's Office.

Meanwhile, about 30 protesters outside the Municipal Building East, the headquarters of the Springfield Police, briefly made it into the lobby before being turned away by officers.

A line of police officers with riot shields appeared to hold them back.

SPD leader Ken Scarlette confirmed that Tiara Standage had been issued a summons for aggravated assault on an officer.

Standage claimed she was choked and beaten by a police officer and choked some more while she was lying on the ground just outside police headquarters.

Standage organized Monday's event and has been the point of contact for several protests after Sonya Massey was shot and killed in her home in an unincorporated area of ​​Woodside Township on July 6.

Trevor Hopkins and Chelsey Farley were both seriously injured in Thursday's crash. Hopkins was released from HSHS St. John's Hospital on Friday, while Farley was scheduled for further surgeries on Monday, according to Farley's sister Caitlyn Weiss.

Weiss and the other family members were taken to police headquarters around 1:45 p.m. Monday afternoon. Weiss had previously told the State Journal-Register that the family had planned a meeting with Mayor Misty Buscher and Scarlette for late Monday afternoon.

Springfield Deputy Police Chief Sara Pickford said Egan's last day on the force was Thursday.

Egan had 23 years of experience with the department and was promoted to sergeant in 2022, according to a State Journal-Register report.

More: Former Springfield police sergeant involved in accident that left two people seriously injured

He began his career as a police officer with the Springfield Park District Police Department and also worked for the Leland Grove and Loami police departments.

At the height of the protests on Monday, more than 100 people were in attendance, many of whom vented their anger about the situation with Egan to the Springfield Police Department. Members of Massey's family, including her mother, Donna Massey, were also in attendance.

Former Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Sean P. Grayson faces murder charges in the case.

Kala McGuire of Springfield said her glasses were knocked off during the brief scrum on Monday.

McGuire said she began attending Massey protests across the city while holding a sign that read, “Stop Killing, Start Saving.”

“I have a lot of black family and friends, so this is close to home because I don't want to lose them just because of a traffic stop or a request to the police for help,” McGuire said.

More: Seven finalists named for Sangamon County Sheriff. Here is the list

“We need the community to hold the police accountable.”

Hayley Lane of Springfield held a sign that read “No one is above the law” and said police reform is needed, especially with regard to hiring practices.

“The police must be held accountable for their actions,” Lane said.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; [email protected]; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

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