Crime & Safety

South Suburban DUI Arrests, Aug. 4

A spat over White Castle burgers caused a Mokena driver to swerve and attract the attention of police. Find out what happened next in this week's list of Southland DUI arrests.

OAK LAWN

July 26: Krzysztof Plewa, 33, of the 11200 block of South Harlem Avenue, Worth, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, failing to give information and failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash, according to a report.

Police investigated a hit-and-run crash where a parked Ford Explorer was smashed into at about 1:43 a.m. in the 6700 block of West 87th Street, according to a report. Debris and a front license plate from the car that drove away was left behind. Police determined the car was registered to a Worth address. Oak Lawn police who drove to Worth found a car with front end damage at the registered address.

The registered owner let police into her home where her husband and the driver, Plewa, was passed out on the couch, the report states. After he got up, Plewa took tests for intoxication.

Plewa is due on Aug. 12 in Bridgeview court.

July 25: Julian P. Ward, 30, of the 5200 block of North Glenwood, Chicago, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash, according to a report.

Officers were called at about 9:38 p.m. to the area near the intersection of Southwest Highway and Ridgeland Avenue for a crash, the report states. One driver told police she was stopped for a red light when she was hit from behind and pushed into another car. 

Ward, who allegedly was driving the vehicle that started multi-car crash, mumbled and appeared confused, the report states. She also was unsteady on her feet but did not smell like alcohol. Ward told police she had taken prescription drugs earlier that day. She was arrested after taking tests for intoxication but refused a urine test while in custody. 

Ward is due on Aug. 12 in Bridgeview court.

July 18: Ricardo M. Ellis, 36, of the 14200 block of South Normal Avenue, Riverdale, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol content greater than 0.08, driving without a license and speeding, according to Oak Lawn police.

Police stopped Ellis at about 2:05 a.m. for traveling 54 mph in a 35 mph zone in the 9000 block of South Cicero Avenue, according to a report. An officer said he had a strong odor of alcohol around him. Police conducted tests for intoxication and asked Ellis to take a breath test.

Ellis is due on Aug. 12 in Bridgeview court.

HOMEWOOD

July 18: Rodney Jennings, 20, of the 3100 block of Oakwood, Hazel Crest, was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and having a defective windshield, according to a Homewood Police Department report. An officer allegedly could smell an odor of marijuana coming from a vehicle pulled over at about 8:14 p.m. in the 2900 block of 175th Street.

The driver, Jennings, told the cop he had two "twisty's" at the beach earlier that day, the report states. He had been smoking with friends. Police searched the car but did not find any drugs, according to a report. A female passenger in the car was searched. An officer found a bag of a substance suspected to be marijuana on her. She was cited for possession of marijuana.

Jennings failed tests for sobriety, the report states. He is due on Aug. 29 in Markham court.

NEW LENOX

July 28: Sarah Raycroft, 26, of the 800 block of Maryknoll Drive, Lockport, was charged with driving under the influence, according to a New Lenox police report. She was arrested at about 12:02 a.m. in the 400 block of East Route 30. Police were called to White Castle to investigate a crash. During the investigation, an officer determined a driver was under the influence of alcohol.

Raycroft posted bond and was released.

MOKENA

July 27: A Mokena driver who was arguing over White Castle burgers is accused of drunken driving.

Ryan M. Cunningham, 21, of the 21000 block of Tall Grass Drive, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of drug equipment, driving without valid registration and improper lane use, according to a report.

An officer on patrol at about 2:15 a.m. near the intersection of 104th Avenue and West 191st Street saw a Jeep drifting across the road lines without signaling. It quickly corrected itself but then crossed the lines again. Police stopped the Jeep and noticed that the registration sticker was partially scraped off. Police noticed signs that the driver, Cunningham, had an odor of alcohol on his breath, according to the report. When asked why the Jeep was swerving in the road, Cunningham said he and a passenger were arguing about hamburgers they just bought at White Castle. He also initially told police he drank "one beer, I think" that night.

Cunningham was arrested after performing field sobriety tests, the report states. He refused a breath test. A search of the car turned up a large pipe that had a residue of burnt marijuana. Cunningham was released on bond and is due on Aug. 15 in Will County court. 

ORLAND PARK

July 15: Timothy P. Curley, 40, of the 12600 block of Diane Drive, Palos Heights, was charged with driving under the influence, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, having only one headlight and disobeying a stop light, according to an Orland Park police report.

Police spotted and stopped a black Volvo at about 1:18 a.m. near 143rd Street and West Avenue that had only one working headlight, the report states. An officer said the driver, Curley, spoke with a very thick tongue and had rosy cheeks. He performed tests for intoxication, after which he was arrested.

Curley is due on Aug. 26 in Bridgeview court. 

July 14: Hoguer Martinez, 32, of the 14200 block of Harrison Avenue, Posen, was charged with driving under the influence, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, improper lane use and driving without a valid license, according to a police report.

An officer saw the passenger side tires of Martinez's car cross the white center line at about 3:49 p.m. in the 7400 block of 143rd Street, the report states. Police said they could smell a moderate odor of alcohol on the driver's breath. Martinez's face was flushed and he stammered when he spoke.

Police asked Martinez, who appeared nervous when speaking with police, to take field sobriety tests. He told an officer he spent about two hours at the bar after getting off of work. Martinez was arrested and placed in the back of a squad car, where he allegedly tried provoke the officer into beating him. He later took a breath test.

Martinez is due on Sept. 3 in Bridgeview court.

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Police report information is provided by local police departments. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.

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