CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson’s $103,488-a-year public safety consultant has been driving with expired license plates for two years because her “check engine” light stays on and she can’t pass an emissions test.
That’s what Alyxandra Goodwin said to the Chicago police sergeant who stopped her last month because of the outdated tags. The traffic stop ended with Goodwin being arrested for an outstanding DuPage County traffic warrant.
Goodwin was driving near the 6600 block of South Cornell when the sergeant pulled her over on Oct. 8 around 4:45 p.m.
Footage from officers present at the stop and arrest shows a generally pleasant encounter, with Goodwin at one point telling the officers she appreciated the “niceties” they offered her.
The sergeant began the stop by telling Goodwin that her car’s license plates had expired in 2022.
“Yes, I know,” Johnson’s senior public safety policy adviser responded.
When asked if there was a reason why her plates had expired since 2022, Goodwin replied: “Yes, my check engine is on and I can’t get my tags until I find out… but I still can’t report the thing. “
“The thing” is a vehicle emissions test, the sergeant confirmed, advising that drivers can get extensions if they have trouble with the test, but she wasn’t sure if Goodwin qualified since the license plates are two years out of date.
After entering Goodwin’s ID into a police car computer, the sergeant returned to Goodwin’s car with bad news: She had a warrant.
“Are you going to arrest me?” Goodwin asked.
“Yes,” the sergeant replied.
That’s when the first mention of Goodwin’s employer came up during the audit.
“My kids are home alone,” Goodwin explained, “and I’m on my way to a mayoral event.”
The officers had her call to arrange for someone to care for her children while Goodwin took care of everything.
During a phone call, apparently to her boss, Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Garien Gatewood, Goodwin is heard saying, “They don’t bother me. They are going to arrest me.”
Goodwin handed her phone to the sergeant and said her boss wanted to speak.
Unfazed by Goodwin’s connections to City Hall, the sergeant explained that Goodwin was being taken to the Grand Crossing (3rd) District Station.
The conversation ended when Goodwin’s boss apparently asked who the district commander was.
“Who is this?” the sergeant asked.
“OK. The commander of the 3rd District is Commander Branch,” the sergeant said before hanging up.
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