Crime & Safety

South Suburban DUI Arrests, Sept. 1

Cops are staking out the roads this Labor Day weekend. Don't become a DUI statistic.

Editor's Note: One or more names in this report have been redacted in light of additional documentation provided regarding this case.

By Nick Swedberg

ORLAND PARK

Aug. 18: A Tinley Park driver who struck a median in front of a cop is facing a drunken driving charge. Sandra R. Asher, 27, of the 16800 block of New England Avenue, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash and driving without insurance, according to an Orland Park police report.

Police watched a vehicle strike the center raised median, blowing up a cloud of smoke from debris, at about 1:58 a.m. on LaGrange Road, the report states. The vehicle came to a stop in the inside lane of LaGrange. The airbags had deployed and fluids were leaking. Police went to check on the driver, who didn't appear injured but had a smell of alcohol on her breath, according to the report.

The driver, Asher, experienced trouble standing, the report states. She performed field sobriety tests but refused to take a breath test. Asher was arrested, booked and given court date of Sept. 3 in Bridgeview.

Aug. 15: A 40-year-old Aurora woman faces drunken driving charges after a traffic stop, police said.

Renee C. Draves, 40, of the 4200 block of Chesapeake Drive, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08 and improper lane use, Orland Park police said. Cops stopped Draves at about 9:59 p.m. in the 10700 block of 159th Street, according to a report. She reportedly had glassy eyes and slurred her speech. Draves also admitted to drinking that night.

Police asked Draves to perform tests for sobriety, which she failed, police said. She was arrested and taken to the Orland Park Police Department. While in custody, Draves took a breath test that resulted in a 0.168 BAL, police said. Draves is due on Sept. 24 in Bridgeview court.

FRANKFORT

Aug. 17: Lloyd C. Butler, 38, of the 22300 block of North Pine Ridge Court, Frankfort, was charged with driving under the influence and driving with unsafe equipment, according to a Frankfort police report. Butler was stopped at about 11:30 p.m. near the intersection of Laraway and Pfeiffer roads. He was released on bond and is due on Sept. 3 in Will County court.

(name removed)

Aug. 14: Shawn T. Kavanaugh, 24, of the 25000 block of South LaGrange Road, Frankfort, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08 and disregarding a stop sign, according to a report. Kavanaugh was arrested at about 1:33 a.m. in Lambrecht and Laraway roads. He was released on bond and is due on Sept. 4 in Will County court.

CHICAGO HEIGHTS

Aug. 13: Armando Juarez, 40, of the 300 block of West 14th Place, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, illegally transporting alcohol, driving without a license, driving without proof of insurance and improper lane use, according to a Chicago Heights police report.

A cop spotted a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee cross the center road lines at about 2:26 a.m. near the intersection of 14th Street and Sunset, the report states. Police performed a traffic stop and the Jeep stopped in the center of the road. The driver, Juarez, could not provide a license or proof of insurance. He told police he drank "five or six beers." The officer had Juarez perform field sobriety tests, which he reportedly failed, and arrested him. He also took a breath test that resulted in a 0.101 BAL.

Juarez was due on Sept. 5 in Markham court.

Aug. 9:
Althea L. Watts, 49, of the 500 block of Wysteria Drive, Olympia Fields, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and two counts of improper lane use, according to a report.

Cops stopped a 2008 Buick Enclave at about 1:15 a.m. in the 600 block of Dixie Highway after it was spotted crossing the center yellow road lines twice, the report states. The driver, Watts, had watery, bloodshot eyes and her breath had an odor of alcohol, police said. Watts told police she had two glasses of wine before driving, the report states. She was asked to take tests for intoxication, which she allegedly failed. Watts refused to take a breath test.

Watts was due on Aug. 28 in Markham court.

Aug. 9: Jose Nieto, 44, of the 3700 block of West 212nd Place, Matteson, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, driving with a defective windshield and driving without proof of insurance, according to a report.

A 1992 Chevy SUV that had a defective windshield was stopped at about 2:17 a.m. in the 1500 block of Chicago Road, the report states. The driver, Nieto, had pulled into a gas station. Nieto had "extremely bloodshot" eyes and a smell of alcohol on his breath, police said. After failing to provide proof of insurance, he told police he had a few drinks that night.

Police arrested Nieto after he performed field sobriety tests, the report states. During a search, police found empty bottles of Barcardi in the car.

Aug. 8: Charles J. Edwards, 53, of the 21700 block of Olive Avenue, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, driving with a revoked license and illegally transporting alcohol, according to a Chicago Heights police report.

Members of the Humane Society pointed out a group of people drinking in a parking lot at about 1:32 p.m., the report states. A few moments later, an SUV driven by one of the people in the group that was drinking pulled out of the lot. Police stopped the car near the intersection of 10th Street and Union Avenue.

The driver, Edwards, had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, the report states. Police found the Edwards had a revoked license and arrested him. While in custody, he submitted to field sobriety tests and a breath test. During a search of the SUV, police uncovered an open bottle of Steel Reserve alcohol.

Aug. 8: Octavio Rodriguez, 28, of the first block of West Hickory, Chicago Heights, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving too fast for conditions, disobeying a stop sign and improper passing, according to a report.

An officer watched a black Pontiac Firebird weave through traffic and blow two stop signs before pulling it over at about 9:19 p.m. near the intersection of Main Street and Chicago Road, the report states. The driver, Rodriguez, had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath when he spoke. He attempted to take tests for intoxication but was unable to finish them. Rodriguez was then arrested and taken to the Chicago Heights Police Department for booking.

PALOS HEIGHTS

Aug. 25: A call about a suspicious car just off of Harlem Avenue led to drunken driving charges, police said.

Nikola P. Zecevic, 26, of the 1600 block of North Hudson Avenue, Chicago, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and DUI with a blood-alcohol limit greater than 0.08, according to a Palos Heights police report. Cops were called about around 9:20 p.m. on Aug. 25. Police investigated a report of a suspicious vehicle in the 13000 block of South 71st Avenue.

When officers arrived, they found a driver sleeping in his vehicle, police said. The driver, Zecevic, showed signs that he was intoxicated. Zecevic was arrested after he reportedly failed tests for sobriety, police said. He provided a breath sample that resulted in a BAL over the legal limit while in custody. Bail was set at $3,000. Zecevic is due on Sept. 27 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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