South Suburban DUI Arrests, May 12

NEW LENOX

May 5: Thomas Cosgrove, 40, of the 1200 block of Shagbark Road, New Lenox, was charged with driving under the influence and speeding, according to a report. Police stopped at car for speeding at about 3:01 a.m. near the intersection of Laraway Road and Stonebridge Drive. Cosgrove was arrested after an investigation by police. He posted bond and was released.

May 4: Jose Fuentes-Jimenez, 31, of the first block of Calle Regina Medina, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, was charged with driving under the influence, driving without insurance, disobeying a traffic control device and speeding, according to a report. Police spotted a car that driven through a traffic control device while speeding. Police stopped the car and, after conducting an investigation, arrested Fuentes-Jimenez. He posted bond and was released.

May 2: Timothy Soja, 58, of the 800 block of Stonegate Road, New Lenox, was charged with driving under the influence, failing to signal and driving without insurance, according to a report. He was stopped at about 2:54 p.m. in the 2300 block of East Route 30, after an officer saw him fail to signal. Soja posted bond and was released.

TINLEY PARK

May 3: Anthony R. Koehler, 26, of the 8100 block of West 84th Place in Justice, was charged with driving under the influence, DUI with a blood-alcohol content greater than 0.08, making an improper turn, driving in the wrong lane, driving without a license and driving without insurance, according to a report.

Police reported seeing a white vehicle make a wide right turn at about 2:01 a.m., from 173rd Place onto Harlem Avenue, crossing into the oncoming lane before correcting. An officer who stopped the car noticed the driver spoke with slurred speech and had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath, the report stated. The driver told police he was tired and had “about five beers and three mixed” drinks, according to the report.

Koehler was arrested after performing field sobriety tests, the report stated. He then took a breath test while in police custody, the report continued.

OAK FOREST

May 5: Noel G. Martinez, 28, of the 5200 block of West 157th Place, was charged with driving under the influence, driving without insurance, leaving the scene of a crash and improper lane use, according to a report.

Police were called about a loud crashing sound at about 3:18 a.m. in the 15600 block of Arroyo Drive, and a witness saw one of the drivers run away from the crash, the report stated. An officer found the driver and was holding him near the corner of 157th Place and Vista Avenue, the report continued.

At the crash site, a silver Chevrolet was missing its entire passenger side and rear passenger wheel, the report stated. A path of debris stretched about 200 feet long in the road, the report continued.

Martinez refused to take field sobriety tests after police arrested him, according to the report. He is due on June 6 in Bridgeview court.

April 30: Margaret A. Owens, 42, of the 15400 block of Hickory Lane, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol content greater than 0.08 and improper lane use, according to a report.

Police saw a black Hyundai make a right turn at about 1:40 a.m., from Central Avenue onto 151st Street, the report stated. It crossed the solid road lines and nearly struck a vehicle stopped at the light. Police stopped the car and noticed a smell of alcohol on the driver’s breath, according to police. The driver told police she had a glass of wine at an event, the report stated. She was arrested after taking field sobriety tests, the report continued.

While at the Oak Forest Police Department, Owens took a breath test for her blood-alcohol content, according to a report.

ORLAND PARK

April 2: Ryan C. Bennett, 23, of the 7900 block of Woodruff Drive, Orland Park, was charged with driving under the influence, driving without insurance, driving without a license on person and improper lane use, according to a report. Police reported seeing a gray Volkswagen Jetta make a wide right turn at about 3:06 a.m. in the 15200 block of 80th Avenue. An officer stopped the car and noticed the driver had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Bennett refused to take any field sobriety tests. He is due on May 15 in Bridgeview court.

April 2: James P. Segredo, 25, of the 14100 block of William Drive, Orland Park, was charged with driving under the influence, failing to wear a seat belt and driving without insurance, according to a report. An officer reported seeing a driver not wearing a seat belt inside a red Chevrolet 4-door at about 12:55 a.m. near 143rd Street and John Humphry Drive. Police stopped the car and allegedly noticed the driver had slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. When asked to perform field sobriety tests, Segredo told police “I’m not gonna blow into anything.” He was arrested and taken to the Orland Park Police Department. He is due on May 22 in Bridgeview court.

April 2: Shawn M. Dietel, 30, of the 11800 block of Josephine Drive, Mokena, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol content greater than 0.08, driving with an expired registration, driving with a broken tail light and driving without insurance, according to a report. Police stopped the car Dietel was driving at about 6:11 p.m. in the 15300 block of Wolf Road. An officer spotted the car drifting in the lane and driving with a broken tail light. Police also determined it had expired registration. During the stop, Dietel allegedly blew cigarette smoke into the officer’s face. He was arrested after performing field sobriety tests. While in custody, he took a breath test.

HOMEWOOD

May 4: Erik Morris, 28, of the 1400 block of Burr Oak Road, Homewood, was charged with driving under the influence, leaving the scene of a crash, driving without insurance and improper lane use, according to a report. Morris is accused of running away from a crash that happened in the 1600 block of Ridge Road. He was arrested at about 2:56 a.m. after police tracked him down. Morris is due on June 17 in Markham court.

May 4: Jose Mendez, 45, of the 15300 block of Turlington Avenue, Harvey, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, driving without a license and improper lane use, according to a report. Mendez's vehicle was stopped near the intersection of Maple Road and Halsted Street after police spotted the car crossing road lines. Police said Mendez admitted to drinking earlier that day and had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. He was arrested after taking field sobriety tests. While in custody, he took a breath test for his BAC. He is due on June 17 in Markham court.

PALOS HEIGHTS

May 5: Timothy J. Avant, 32, of the 14800 block of Woodlawn Avenue, Dolton, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol content greater than 0.08 and stopping in the roadway, according to a report. Police were called at about 11:23 p.m. to the 12100 block of South Ridgeland Avenue for a report of a possibly drunken driver. Avant was stopped and asked to perform field sobriety tests, after which he was arrested. He is due on June 17 in Bridgeview court.

May 4: Jennifer C. Buss, 28, of the 6600 block of West 177th Street, Tinley Park, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol content greater than 0.08 and improper lane use, according to a report. Buss was stopped at about 2:36 a.m. in the 12900 block of South Ridgeland Avenue for a lane violation. Police had Buss perform field sobriety tests after she allegedly showed signs he had been drinking. She is due on June 26 in Bridgeview court.

May 1: Marc Tarver, 42, of the 9400 block of Hickory Street, Mokena, was charged with possession of controlled substance, driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08 and improper lane use, according to a report. Tarver was stopped at about 2:26 a.m. in the 12300 block of South Harlem for a lane violation. Police said the driver had bloodshot eyes and a strong smell of alcohol coming from him. He allegedly failed field sobriety tests and gave a sample for a breath test. He was due on May 1 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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