DUI Charges Mounting for Indiana Man

A Hammond, Ind., man cruising through the Southland last week was hit with three counts of DUI in three days.

Chicago Heights Police said they smelled marijuana and alcohol after stopping 37-year-old Humberto Lopez’s car at 14th and Halsted streets around 7 p.m. Jan. 27 for turning illegally on red.

Lopez failed initial field sobriety tests and refused to take anymore or blow into a Breathalyzer, but admitted to smoking a joint and drinking beer before getting behind the wheel, police said.

He was charged with DUI of alcohol, DUI of drugs and improper turn.

This followed a similar arrest in Homewood two days prior, in which police said they stopped Lopez at Halsted Street and Holbrook Road around 6 p.m. for swerving between lanes. Officers found a white substance that field tested positive for cocaine but was sent to the state crime lab for verification.

Homewood police charged Lopez with DUI of drugs, no insurance and improper lane usage.

A message left at Lopez's home seeking comment was not returned Wednesday.

A passenger in his car, Ramon Zambrano, 34, of the 300 block of 25th Street in Chicago Heights, was also arrested Jan. 25 on outstanding warrants.