South Suburban DUI Arrests, Dec. 30

PALOS HEIGHTS

DEC. 15: Jazzi Kemp, 28, of the 14500 block of Murray Ave. in Dolton, was charged with improper lane use and two counts of driving under the influence, according to a police report. Kemp's vehicle was stopped at about 12:28 a.m. near 12700 S. Harlem Ave. for improper lane use. The driver was arrested after allegedly failing several field sobriety tests. Kemp was booked and given a $1,000 bond.

OAK LAWN

DEC. 22: A school board member and south suburban police chief has been charged with his second DUI in less than three years, Oak Lawn Patch reports. 

Robbins Police Chief Johnny Holmes, 66, was pulled over around 10:30 p.m. Dec. 22, after he was reported to have cut off another driver.

According to the Tribune, Holmes was found with a flask of liquor in his pocket and a blood-alcohol content of .194, more than twice the legal limit. At first Holmes denied he had had any alcohol, but he eventually admitted to drinking earlier at Posen Pub. Holmes also thought he was still in Posen, the Chicago Tribune cited the police report.

Holmes failed field sobriety tests and was arrested. He was eventually charged with two counts of DUI, police said.

The Robbins police chief currently sits on the Community High School Dist. 218 school board, that includes H. L. Richards High School in Oak Lawn, and Alan B. Shepard High School in Palos Heights. Holmes was arrested for DUI in March 2010, also in Midlothian, when he allegedly swerved into a lane of oncoming traffic.

At that time, Holmes was suspended with pay while his case was under review by the village board. He was issued a verbal warning by Robbins village trustees.

NEW LENOX

DEC. 22: William Garcia, 19, Joliet, was stopped by police for reportedly driving recklessly in the 2300 block of E. Route  30. While investigating, police discovered the driver had been drinking. A computer check of his background revealed that he was also operating an uninsured vehicle and driving without a valid registration. He was additionally charged with underage consumption of alcohol. He was ticketed for all four violations and taken to the Will County Jail.

MOKENA

DEC. 19: Joseph A. Molina, 23, Tinley Park, was charged with DUI and hit-and-run after hitting a car in a parking lot in the 18700 block of Old LaGrange Road. According to the report, Molina was pulling out of the parking lot when he struck another vehicle and attempted to drive off. Police said Molina's car had severe front end damage and the airbags had been deployed. He was ticketed for DUI, hit and run and for operating an uninsured vehicle.

DEC. 16: Cody Fenn, 17, of the 11300 block of 193rd Street, lost control of a pickup truck and struck a guardrail at 104th Avenue and W. 191st Street. Police say they got a call shortly after 2 a.m. by someone who noticed a car with heavy front end damage on 193rd Street.

According to the report, police arrived to find the vehicle in the driveway at Fenn's home. The hood was "warm to the touch," and Fenn's breath smelled of alcohol. At first Fenn denied having been in an accident, but then admitted it. He was ticketed for DUI, illegal transportation of alcohol and failure to notify police of damage. He was additionally cited for not having a valid driver's license and for driving too fast for conditions.

Police also arrested the pickup truck's passenger, 17-year-old Corey Fitzsimmons, Frankfort, for underage consumption of alcohol.  Fenn was released into the custody of his grandfather and Fitzsimmons posted an I-Bond.    

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.