PEORIA, Ill. — The wife of embattled Peoria At-Large Councilman Zach Oyler has claimed not only has she wanted to drop charges against him, but she also never wanted to file charges against him in the first place.
Heather Oyler accused Zach Oyler of making physical contact with her the night of July 30th.
She said she has dealt with mental health issues for years, and “wasn’t in her right mind” the night she told authorities Zach Oyler both assaulted her and took her keys and cell phone.
The former accusation led to a charge of battery; the latter accusation led to additional misdemeanor charges of interfering with a police report.
Heather Oyler said she tried three times to get the Peoria County State’s Attorney office to drop the case, but to no avail.
“Once, I went down there before charges were filed to find out how to keep them from filing charges, and I kind of got brushed off,” she said.
“I went down there another time the week the charges were filed, and they just basically told me I was going to get left when all this was over, and they were going to use me as an example to every white woman of quote-unquote privilege in this town, that they can come forward.
“So, I expressed that when I went to speak with them last week [for the third time], and I felt as though they weren’t listening to me because they were just trying to make me an example as someone in a public position.”
Heather Oyler said it was the third meeting that made her want to come forward to the press and tell her side of the story.
“The timing couldn’t have come on a better day. It was World Mental Health Awareness Day,” she said.
“It made me realize I’m not ashamed of having an impairment or disorder.
“Waiting was only making things worse for us and not making it any better.”
The State’s Attorney’s office said the case would continue to be investigated.
“If we were just any other people who lived in the town of Peoria, I don’t feel like it would be going to this length when I asked for charges not to be filed,” Heather Oyler said.
A court hearing was scheduled for Wednesday for Zach Oyler.
