Illinois State Police trooper charged with drugging, sexually assaulting bartender held in custody
An Illinois State Police trooper who has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a bartender in southwest suburban Tinley Park will remain behind bars as he awaits trial.
The wife and two daughters of 54-year-old Douglas Lee were in court Tuesday, trying to convince the judge to release him pending the outcome of the case. They said he has been cooperative during the entire process.
But the judge denied the motion, instructing the 22-year veteran of the state police department to remain in custody as he awaits trial.
Lee is charged with felony criminal sexual assault. Prosecutors said the case against him was built on surveillance video, license plate reader data and other evidence gathered during a year-long investigation.
According to court documents, Lee – who is also a Tinley Park resident – and the alleged victim met in 2024 while he was a regular at the bar where she worked. Prosecutors said he joined the victim and several of her girlfriends at a nearby bar after her shift on Aug. 2, 2025.
Court records say video surveillance from the bar shows Lee and the victim walking across Oak Park Avenue toward a fountain. The victim then falls to the ground as she tries to sit down.
The woman told investigators the last thing she remembered was dancing with a friend before waking up in her vehicle the next morning with her pants on, inside out, and her bra on the passenger seat.
Prosecutors allege Lee drugged the woman, took her to a hotel in Midlothian, sexually assaulted her, and left her in her vehicle overnight.
Prosecutors said Lee paid for the room using the same credit card he used at the bar earlier that night.
Prosecutors said surveillance video in the case shows the woman was unable to consent to sex, but defense attorneys said it shows her willingly getting into Lee's car.
The village of Tinley Park said, as far as they know, he was not on duty at the time of the assault.
Illinois State Police said Lee has been on unpaid leave since December, was stripped of his police powers, and remains under internal investigation.
Lee is next due in court later in August.
