Chicago DUI Lawyer Blog

Henry Benjamin III, 37, was arrested for DUI and issued several citations after allegedly driving a stolen truck while under the influence. Police reports indicate that Benjamin was spotted in a 1996 Dodge pick-up truck swerving and speeding on Route 25 in Carpentersville, Illinois.

Police pulled over the truck and determined that Benjamin was intoxicated after observing the driver's bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and odor of alcohol. According to police reports, Benjamin argued with the officers, and eventually one of the officers reached in the truck to grab him. Benjamin began driving off while dragging the officer, who was partially in the truck, for several feet. The officer let go of the truck and Benjamin sped off, starting a police chase. Benjamin, reportedly struck three marked squad cars before pulling over to flee on foot.

Two of the injured officers required treatment at a nearby hospital. Benjamin was treated and released into police custody.

Benjamin was charged with DUI causing great bodily harm, aggravated fleeing a police officer, driving on suspended or revoked license, aggravated battery, criminal damage to property, unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle, reckless driving and hit and run.

Area police injured, squad cars wrecked in DUI chase, www.nwherald.com, March 16, 2011

Jose Rodriguez, 21, plead guilty for driving under the influence and was sentenced to 24 months of probation.

Rodriguez was charged with aggravated DUI after he hit an off-duty FBI agent who was driving to a Labor Day half-marathon. The agent, Elizabeta Petruc, will likely have to be out of work for 12-18 months due to the injuries caused by the accident. Her left wrist, ankle and legs were broken, one knee was also badly damaged. Both cars caught fire after the accident.

Evidence showed that Rodriguez had been driving 60-70 mph when he struck Petruc's vehicle and his blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit. Rodriquez apologized through in interpreter in court. He will have to participate in an alcohol safety program and perform 100 hours of community service.

Probation in DUI that injured off-duty FBI agent, www.chicagotribune.com, March 8, 2011

Radio personality Harry Teinowitz was arrested on March 4th for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. Police were called by a witness who reported Teinowitz had swerved across all four lanes of traffic and almost struck his vehicle several times. Teinowitz was charged with improper lane usage and DUI after Breathalyzer results showed his blood alcohol content was .131 percent.

According to a Skokie police report he had fresh marijuana residue on his shirt and a strong odor of pot coming from his vehicle. When questioned about the marijuana, Teinowitz told the officer that his car was recently parked using a valet service and the driver must have smoked pot in his car. He denied having any pot. His driver's license was taken away and he was released on a $1000 D-bond. His vehicle was impounded and is scheduled to appear in court on March 23, 2011.

Teinowitz made an announcement on his show saying he made "a horrible mistake in judgement."

Last may Teinowitz was removed from the White Sox clubhouse after he reportedly was loud and behaving in a manner which Sox executives believed was inappropriate.

Teinowitz has been with on the "Afternoon Saloon" since 2001. He is currently suspended from the show and an ESPN spokesperson said that the "company is reviewing the additional information that has come to light and that his suspension will continue through Monday."

ESPN radio personality Harry Teinowitz arrested for DUI in Skokie, www.myfoxchicago.com, March 7, 2011

ESPN radio personality Harry Teinowitz: "I'm deeply sorry" for DUI arrest, www.suntimes.com, March 9,2011

Police: ESPN radio's Harry Teinowitx had pot on his shirt during DUI arrest, www.suntimes.com, March 12, 2011

According to Illinois State Police, Enrique Lopez, 32, was waiting on the shoulder of the I-55 Expressway for a tow truck on Thursday night when he was struck by a pickup truck. The truck, described by witnesses as a white pickup with a blue driver's door left the scene of the accident. Lopez was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital but he could not be resuscitated according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.

Fernando Almaraz, 40, of Chicago, was charged with aggravated DUI in the incident. A witness allegedly saw Almaraz's pickup truck cross the sold white line on the Stevenson Expressway and strike Lopez before driving off. Police located the vehicle 15 minutes later and determined that Almaraz was under the influence of alcohol after conducting field sobriety tests. In addition, an open can of beer was found in the vehicle and Alvarez admitted consuming alcohol. Almaraz reportedly had a BAC of .161, just over twice the legal limit.

Almaraz has three prior convictions for DUI. Bail was set at $1 million.

Motorist charged with DUI in fatal hit-and-run, www.suntimes,.com, March 19, 2011

Prosecutors: Driver in fatal Stevenson crash was drunk, www.chicagotribune.com, March 19, 2011

Crystal Lake Police are asking residents to call in tips on drunk drivers and receive a $100 reward. During St. Patrick's week, from March 11-March 20, Crystal Lake Police and Prairie Grove Police will increase DUI patrols. They are asking tipsters to call in possible impaired drivers on the roadways. Tips which result in DUI arrests will result in a $100 reward. The effort is in association with the Drunkbusters program run by the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM). Funding for the program is provided by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Crystal Lake Police in Force to Bust Drunk Drivers, Prevent Fatalities, www.crystallake.patch.com, March 15, 2010

A Chicago man involved in a traffic accident on Route 41 in Lake Bluff was charged with felony DUI after he allegedly admitted to drinking a large amount of tequila.

Police arrived on scene after a call from a driver reporting that a car was swerving and had struck his truck. The driver of the car, Federica Padilla, allegedly smelled of alcohol. Officers found a bottle of tequila with only a third remaining as well as empty beer bottles in the car. Padilla refused a Breathalyzer test and was taken into custody.

According to the Lake County Sheriff's Office, along with felony DUI, Padilla was charged with driving without insurance, driving on a revoked license, illegal transportation of alcohol, improper lane usage, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and failure to yield while merging.

This was not his first DUI arrest.

Felony DUI charge after Route 41 crash, www.suntimes.com, March 5, 2011

Eric T. Maschmeier, 20, was paroled a little over a year ago for a six-year prison term for a botched armed robbery attempt. According to the Illinois Department of Corrections website, he was released from prison on January 13, 2010.

On February 9th of this year, Masschmeier was arrested on DUI charges after he flipped his white Chevrolet Impala into a snowbank south of 75th Street in Naperville. After the crash, Maschmeier and a female passenger allegedly escaped the wreckage uninjured, fled on foot and called a friend to give him a ride home. Police were able to locate and arrest him after they determined he was driving under the influence.

An eye-witness estimated that Maschmeier was speeding at over 100 mph.

It has not been determined how much additional prison time Maschmeier will face for the violation of his parole.

Ex-con back in prison after DUI crash, www.suntimes.com, March 2, 2011

Chicago truck driver, Maurice C. Gregory, was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of marijuana while en route from Rockford to Indiana. Gregory was cited for DUI, following too closely, unsafe lane movement and log book violations.

While on patrol on Indiana 63, State Trooper Joe Rutledge noticed a semi pulling a box trailer driving 12 mph over the speed limit. Rutledge followed the truck and reported that it was weaving from side to side, following another vehicle too closely, and then suddenly veered into the passing lane. The trooper then stopped the vehicle and, after approaching, noticed Gregory was only wearing a t-shirt and boxers. The interior of the cab allegedly smelled like burnt marijuana. The driver's log book showed no entries for the past five days which is a federal commercial vehicle violation.

Gregory was taken to Terre Haute Regional Hospital for a blood test and later incarcerated in the Vermillion County Jail.

Boxer-clad truck driver arrested for driving while on pot, www.tribstar.com, March 3, 2011

Jessica Garcia, 21, crashed through a dead-end barrier at Garfield street while allegedly driving her Jeep Grand Cherokee under the influence of alcohol. After crashing through the barrier, her Jeep flew over freight train tracks and came to a rest on the Blue Line tracks at the Austin Station in Oak Park. The crash interrupted Blue Line service for a couple of hours.

Officers found Garcia sitting outside of her vehicle when they arrived. She was taken to Loyola University Medical Center for minor injuries and a few broken teeth.

Garcia was charged with felony driving under the influence after toxicology tests showed her blood alcohol level to be at 0.188. She was also cited for driving without insurance, driving without a license and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Woman charged with DUI after Blue Line crash, www.triblocal.com, February 28, 2011

Raul Vega Jr., 34, of Little Village was allegedly traveling down the road at 5 mph when Chicago Police were called to investigate. At 4:50 a.m. on Wednesday February 23rd, officers located the slow moving vehicle and were able to stop the car by hand. Officers attempted to speak to Vega who's head was cocked back with closed eyes. After waking Vega, the believed that he was intoxicated. The driver allegedly claimed that he had been celebrating his finalized divorce with 10 to 12 beers.

Police say Vega is charged with aggravated driving under the influence, driving without a valid driver's license, driving without a seatbelt, driving too slow for conditions, and additional moving violations.

Man charged with DUI after cops stop car at 5 mph, www.chicagotribune.com, February 25, 2011