Crime & Safety

South Suburban DUI Arrests, July 14

A three-car crash and a series of torn up lawns resulted from some of the latest drunken driving incidents in the Southland. See what else happened in Patch's roundup for this week.

Compiled by Patch Editor Nick Swedberg

PALOS HEIGHTS

June 29: Palos Heights police arrested an Oak Lawn driver they say had an odor of alcohol on her breath.

Maria L. Ganta, 54, of the 10000 block of South Melvina Avenue, was charged with DUI, improper stopping and improper lane use, according to a Palos Heights police report. Ganta was stopped for an equipment violation and for driving improperly. Police spotted her at about 4:02 a.m. in the 12000 block of South Harlem Avenue.

The driver had an odor of alcohol on her breath and failed sobriety tests, police said. Bail was set at $3,000, police said. She is due on August 20 in court.

OAK FOREST

July 1: An Oak Forest driver who denied backing into a car faces a couple of DUI charges.

Kathleen Busch, 51, of the 15800 block of Terrace Drive, was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol and DUI with a blood-alcohol content greater than 0.08, according to a police report. Oak Forest officers were called at about 3:50 p.m., to the 15700 block of Terrace Drive for a report of a suspicious vehicle, the report states. A witness told police the small beige vehicle was playing loud music and that the driver might be drunk.

Police found a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire in the area that had backed into a parked car, the report states. The driver, Busch, was sitting in the car with her head down and the music turned up. She told officers that nothing happened and that she didn't hit the car. Busch had alcohol on her breath, police said, but denied drinking that day. She attempted to take field sobriety test but, after some unsuccessful tries, was arrested. At the Oak Forest Police Department, Busch was cited for DUI and for having a BAC greater than the limit. Police released Busch after she posted bail. She is due on July 17 in Bridgeview court.

WILL COUNTY

July 7: John J. Lanigan, 62, of the 1700 block of Giddington Court, New Lenox, was charged with driving under the influence and failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash, according to a report. He was arrested near the intersection of Chatfield and North Schoolhouse roads in New Lenox.

ORLAND PARK

June 22: An Orland Park woman is accused of being under the influence of drugs when involved in a three-car crash.

Jayne K. Panka, 55, of the 17200 block of Lakebrook Drive, was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, improper lane use and failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash, according to an Orland Park police report. Police were called at about 4:26 p.m. to the 9700 block of 153rd Street to investigate the multiple-vehicle crash, the report states. One of the drivers, Panka, appeared confused, spoke with slurred speech and couldn't remember her phone number. She was taken to Silver Cross Hospital for treatment.

An officer who spoke with the other drivers and a witness determined that Panka's car allegedly veered into oncoming traffic and struck the other two cars, the report states. The first struck car stopped in a nearby private drive. The second was hit head on. Blood and urine samples were taken at the hospital to test for alcohol and for the possible presence of Xanax and Depakote.

MOKENA

July 3: A Mokena man lost control of his car and drove through three yards will face a Will County judge next month.

Arturo Villasenor, 30, of the 195000 block of Scarth Lane, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash and for driving off the roadway, according to a report. Villasenor's car jumped a curb and plowed into a car parked in the driveway of a home in the 10400 block of Willow Road, police said. Officers responded to a call at about 4:01 a.m. and found a black Mercury Grand Marquis sideways in the driveway. The Mercury had struck a black Nissan Altima before finally coming to a stop.

Skid marks ran up westbound Willow Road, followed immediately by tire tracks in the front yards of three homes in the 10400 block of Willow, according to police. Along the way, the car also struck mailbox, hit a tree, and damaged sod, landscaping and the brick on the east side of a garage. The driver of the wayward car had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol, police said. Villasenor allegedly told a firefighter that he had "4, 5, or 6 beers" that night.

Villasenor said he did not know why his car left the road and that he was unable to brake, according to the report. He was taken to Silver Cross Hospital as a precaution, where he refused to blow for a breath test. Police released Villasenor after he posted bail. He is due on Aug. 1 in Will County court.

Are you a fan of true crime? Like the Crime-n-Shame Facebook page for tales of mischief and woe from all over the Chicago area.

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.

What To Read Next: 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.