Crime & Safety

South Suburban DUI Arrests, Nov. 10

Using sex to get out of a drunken driving stop isn't the best strategy. See what happened in this week's roundup of Southland DUI arrests.

Oct. 27: A Crest Hill man who police say was straddling the middle of the road is accused of drunken driving.

Paul C. Breyer, Jr., 51, of the 1800 block of Kelly Avenue, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, driving without insurance, improper lane use and making an improper turn, according to an Orland Park police report.

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A cop on patrol at about 12:47 a.m. near the intersection of 159th Street and Wolf Road spotted a black Monte Carlo make a wide right turn, the report states. The officer caught up with the car, which he noticed was straddling the double yellow road lines, and pulled it over. The driver, Breyer, apologized after police pointed out his lane violation and wide turn, the report states. He allegedly had bloodshot eyes, slurred his speech and had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Breyer handed police his driver's license but couldn't provide proof of insurance. Police asked Breyer to perform tests for sobriety, during which he appeared wobbly and had to use his car to balance himself, the report states. He was arrested and booked at the Orland Park Police Department. Breyer is due on Nov. 18 in Bridgeview court.

Oct. 26: A driver on a learner's permit was accused of drunken driving following a traffic stop last month.

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Karent J. Amezquita-Lara, 25, of the 4200 block of Seeley Avenue, Downers Grove, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08 and improper lane use, according to an Orland Park police report.

An officer on patrol spotted a vehicle at about 2:52 a.m. cross the center road line, entering the other lane, the report states. Police pulled the vehicle over in the 14900 block of 82nd Avenue and spoke with the driver, Amezquita-Lara. Cops discovered that Amezquita-Lara was driving on a learner's permit and was having trouble keeping the vehicle straight, the report states. An officer was able to smell an odor of alcohol on the driver's breath while she talked. She also had trouble finding her identification in her purse.

Police asked Amezquita-Lara to perform tests for sobriety, and ended up doing the tests bare-footed because she was wearing high heels, the report states. She was arrested after attempting to complete the tests. Amezquita-Lara is due on Nov. 26 in Bridgeview court.

Oct. 17: A Burbank driver who had trouble keeping his balance during a recent traffic stop was accused of drunken driving.

Ramiro Leal, Jr., 22, of the 7800 block of LeClaire Avenue, Burbank, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, driving without a license, disobeying a stoplight and possessing drug paraphernalia, according to an Orland Park police report. A gold Chevy rolled past the white line at about 3:31 a.m. at a red light in the intersection of 159th Street and 71st Court, the report states. Police pulled the Chevy over a short distance away.

While speaking with the driver, police noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from the car, the report states. The driver, Leal, was asked to step out of the car, at which point police noticed he had red and glassy eyes. Police asked Leal to perform tests for sobriety, the report states. He had trouble keeping his balance and, during one test, was unable to walk heel to toe. Leal was asked after completing the tests.

An officer recovered a black pipe used for smoking marijuana in the Chevy's center console, the report states. Leal is due on Nov. 12 in Bridgeview court.

PALOS HEIGHTS

Nov. 3: Thomas Leatherman, 41, of the 6900 block of W. Laramie Avenue in Oak Forest, was charged with drunken driving. He was stopped at 12:42 p.m. in the 7900 block of College Drive for several lane violations, police said. He showed signs of being intoxicated and failed field sobriety tests, police said.

Oct. 28: David J. Duque, 37, of the  8000 block of S. New England in Burbank, was charged with drunken driving. At 1:51 a.m. officers observed him following another car too closely and committing several lane violations in the 11900 block of Ridgeland, police said. Dugue smelled of alcohol and failed field sobriety tests, police said.

CHICAGO HEIGHTS

Oct. 13: A 29-year-old Park Forest woman faces several charges following a DUI arrest.

Tiana J. Williams, of the 300 block of Wilshire Street in Park Forest, was traveling northbound on Chicago Road from Joe Orr Road shortly after 2:30 a.m. when police noticed her car veer off the road and into the gravel along the shoulder. Upon inspection, police noticed a strong smell of alcohol coming from Williams’ car, according to the report. Police also said Williams’ speech was slurred.

Williams could hardly stand when police began the field sobriety test, according to the report. When the officer asked her to stand on one leg, she replied, “This is hard as f*** sober! I’m not gonna make it to 30.” Following Williams’ performance on the first test, police gave her a preliminary breath test, which yielded a .178 result. As the officer was explaining the results, Williams offered to give the officer a sexual favor, according to the report.

Williams was arrested and taken to the Chicago Heights Police station where police tried to give her a chemical breath test, but she vomited during each of three separate attempts. When the test was finally administered, she blew inconclusive results. Williams was charged with improper lane usage, operating and uninsured vehicle and driving under the influence of alcohol.

WILL COUNTY

Oct. 25: Richard R. Muth, 50, of the 11400 block of West 194th, Mokena, was charged with driving under the influence, screeching tires and improper lane use, according to a Will County report. He was arrested near the intersection of West Lincoln Highway and Settlers Pond Drive, Mokena.

NEW LENOX

Nov. 2: The New Lenox police arrested two men for allegedly driving under the influence.

First, the cops reportedly spotted a speeding vehicle about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday and pulled it over near the intersection of Cedar Road and Oakview Drive.

The driver, James Blommaert, 27, of 12222 W. 187th St. in Mokena, was arrested but released from custody after posting bond. Then, shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday, the police reportedly stopped a speeder near the intersection of Delaney and Nelson roads. This driver, Wyatt Manheim, 27, of 25752 S. Gougar Road in Manhattan, also was charged with driving under the influence. Like Blommaert, Manheim was released from custody after posting bond.

MOKENA

Oct. 30: A Matteson man wanted for failing to appear in court on a drunken driving charge is again in trouble with police.

Tomas Bahena-Garcia, 31, of the first block of Patterson, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without lights, and driving with a revoked license, according to a Mokena police report.

Mokena police spotted a car at about 1 a.m. drive through the intersection of First Street and Division Street without headlights on, the report states. Cops pulled the car over and noticed that the driver had an open Corona beer bottle sticking out of a red plastic cup in the center console. The driver, Bahena-Garcia, showed the officer a driver's license from Mexico but did not have one from the U.S., the report states. Police noticed that he had bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Bahena-Garcia claimed at first that he drank 2 beers that night, but later told police it was "maybe 3 beers." Bahena-Garcia said he was driving to Matteson and that he was sorry for not turning on his headlights, police said.

Police arrested Matteson after he performed tests for sobriety, the report states. He refused to take a breath test while in police custody. A check also showed that the Bahena-Garcia was wanted on a DuPage County warrant for failing to appear in court for a DUI charge.

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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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