Police officer sentenced for drunken driving

By Dustin Lemmon | Saturday, February 11, 2006

A Moline police officer was sentenced to 120 days in jail Friday for a driving while intoxicated conviction, but he is bonded out while awaiting his appeal.

Timothy K. Saathoff only will have to serve two days with the remainder of the sentence suspended. He also must serve one year of probation and pay a $1,000 fine.

Last month, Judge Mary Howes found Saathoff, 33, of Cordova, Ill., guilty on a single count of operating while intoxicated. The incident occurred while the officer was off duty at about 3:10 a.m. June 30.

Saathoff was involved in a sideswipe accident with a semitrailer on Interstate 80 in Illinois, police said. He was stopped on I-80 in Scott County where he failed an eye test and refused a Breathalyzer.

Saathoff has been on administrative duty while the court case has been pending. It was not clear Friday what impact his sentencing might have on his employment.

— Dustin Lemmon