South Suburban DUI Arrests, April 7

OAK FOREST

March 31: Rohtkumar K. Patel, 39, of the 16700 block of South Cicero Avenue, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash and leaving the scene of a crash, according to a report. Patel is accused of driving away from a crash that happened at about 1:13 a.m. near the intersection of 159th Street and Laramie. Police caught up with Patel at 167th Street and Cicero Avenue, where they found him standing next to his black 2010 Toyota Corolla. He was asked to perform field sobriety tests after police reported smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath. He was arrested and, after being taken to the Oak Forest Police Department, took a breath test.

ORLAND PARK

March 16: Korsica A. Smith, 19, of the 3000 block of Bernice Road in Lansing, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, improper lane use and disobeying a traffic control device, according to a report. Smith was stopped by police after she ran a red light and weaved between lanes. An officer could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from Smith's breath, according to the report. She failed field sobriety tests. Smith refused to take a breath test. She reportedly yelled a string of curse words and called police racist. Smith is due in Bridgeview court on May 1.

March 14: Joseph M. Targosz, 59, of the 16000 block of Josef Drive in Homer Glen, was charged with driving under the influence, driving with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, and failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash. Police were called at about 2:36 p.m. to the intersection of Will-Cook Road and 159th Street for a crash. An officer reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol coming from one of the vehicles in the crash. An empty 12-oz. can of Natural Ice beer was found on the floor near the right, rear passenger seat. Targosz was arrested and taken to the Orland Park Police Department, where he took a breath test. He is due in a Bridgeview court on April 14.

March 10: Kenneth V. McBrien, Jr., 41, of the 14600 block of Poplar Court in Orland Park, was charged with driving under the influence, improper lane use and speeding, according to a report. McBrien was stopped at about 11:02 p.m. in the 8800 block of 151st Street after his 2003 Chevy Impala was seen speeding and weaving in the lane. Police reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol on the driver’s breath. He was arrested after attempting to take field sobriety tests. McBrien was due in Bridgeview court on March 29.

March 9: Kimberlyn Sawyer, 44, of the 9200 block of Hartwood Court in Orland Park, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and battery, according to a police report. Police were called at about 9:36 p.m. to the parking lot at Walgreens, 14680 LaGrange Rd. on a report of a man and woman arguing inside a Ford Explorer. An officer reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol on the breath of Sawyer, who was in the driver's seat of the running SUV. While talking to police from inside the SUV, Sawyer reportedly swatted at and hit an officer’s hand. She was arrested and taken to the Orland Park Police Department, where she took field sobriety tests. Sawyer is due in a downtown Chicago courtroom on April 22.

NEW LENOX

March 31: Lawrence P. Spaulding, 35, of the 2400 block of Cattleman Drive in New Lenox, was charged with driving under the influence, disobeying a stop sign and failing to signal, according to a report. Police reportedly saw Spaulding commit several moving violations at about 1:12 a.m. in the 100 block of Veterans Parkway and, later, determined he was under the influence. Spaulding was released after posting bond.

March 30: Scott E. Melsome, 31, of the 1100 block of North Cedar Road in New Lenox, was charged with driving under the influence, speeding and failing to signal when required, according to a report. He was stopped for several moving violations at about 1:52 a.m. near the intersection of Maple Street and Vine Street. Police said he was driving under the influence. Melsome was released after posting bond.

March 28: Carlos Mercado, 18, of the 500 block of Florence Avenue in Joliet, was charged with driving under the influence, failing to signal when required and improper parking, according to a report. Police saw a car stopped in the roadway at about 12:25 a.m. in the 600 block of West Maple. After speaking with the driver, police found him to be under the influence. Mercado was released after posting bond.

March 27: Ashlee N. Knowles, 28, of the 700 block of Brockwood Road in New Lenox, was charged with driving under the influence, failing to signal and other moving violations, according to a report. She was arrested around 1:13 a.m. near the intersection of Cedar Road and Second Street. Police allege she was under the influence when they made contact with her. Knowles was released after posting bond.

CHICAGO HEIGHTS

March 27: Hector Meraz, Jr., 22, of the 2900 block of 118th Place in Lansing, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, speeding and driving without insurance, according to a report. During a traffic stop for speeding, an officer reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol coming from Meraz's breath. He was arrested after taking field sobriety tests. Meraz reportedly told police he had 3 Coors beers and several mixed drinks.

March 23: Cary R. Cummings, 34, of the 100 block of West Ray Drive in Chicago Heights, was charged with driving under the influence, illegally transporting alcohol and improper lane use, according to a report. Police said they saw a car at about 8:23 a.m. failing to stay in its lane near the intersection of Ashland Avenue and Joe Orr Road. An officer reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol on the driver's breath. Cummings told police "I almost made it home. I was so close" before being asked to perform field sobriety tests. He was arrested and refused to take any more tests. Cummings is due in Markham court on April 17.

HOMEWOOD

April 2: James Davenport, 29, of the 1900 block of Pulaski Road in Calumet City, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash and illegally transporting alcohol, according to a report. Police were called at about 1:58 am. to the intersection of a 175th Street and Halsted Street for a crash. One of the drivers in the crash, Davenport, reportedly had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and had trouble getting cards out of his wallet. Police spotted an open alcoholic beverage in a cup holder. Davenport is due in Markham court on May 8.

March 31: Jerome Martin, 24, of North Cottage Grove Avenue in Glenwood (full address not given), was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without insurance, according to a report. Martin was found at about 4:45 p.m. near the 3000 block of 183rd Street while police were investigating a 2006 white Chevrolet Monte Carlo that had extensive damage. He reportedly had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Martin told police he was walking home to Glenwood after drinking in Chicago. He also admitted to driving drunk and striking a tree but couldn't remember where the crash happened. He is due on Markham court on May 8.

PALOS HEIGHTS

March 30: Steven Molina, 26, of the 11200 block of South Pacific Drive in Worth, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, improper lane use and driving without insurance, according to a report. A vehicle was stopped for improper lane use at about 2:41 a.m. near 12100 S. Harlem Ave. Police determined that the driver, Molina, was under the influence of alcohol. He is due in Bridgeview court April 25.

March 29: Danny J. Lewis, 38, of the 10400 block of South Keating Avenue in Oak Lawn, was charged with driving under the influence, driving with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, speeding and improper lane use, according to a report. Police stopped Lewis for speeding and improper lane use at about 11 p.m. near 12300 S. Ridgeland Ave. Police found him to be under the influence. He is due in Bridgeview court on April 25.

March 28: John R. Vadermey, 26, of the 5300 block of Crescent Lane in Oak Forest, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08 and failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash, according to a report. Vadermey was involved in a crash, after which police found him to be under the influence. He is due in Bridgeview court on May 9.

March 28: Jose Cuamani, 23, of the 9000 block of Kennedy Court in Orland Park, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, driving without a valid license and improper lane use, according to a report. Police stopped Cuamani for lane violations. He was arrested after failing field sobriety tests. Cuamani is due in Brigdeview court on May 9.

PALOS HILLS

March 30: Takishi Knox, 19, of Bridgeview, was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, according to a report. Police stopped a vehicle at about 10:30 p.m. in the 10100 block of Roberts Road for driving without front registration. An officer reported smelling a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Knox is due in Bridgeview court on May 13.

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