Chicago DUI Lawyer Blog

Anthony Wnek, 47, faces felony charges of false impersonation of a police officer and fleeing a police officer along with misdemeanor DUI and a variety of traffic violations after a bizarre incident that took place on Friday evening.

Wnek allegedly pounded on the door of a Lake in the Hills neighbor, Steve Tatgenhorst, while yelling "U.S. Marshals, U.S. Marshals. Open the door!" Tetgenhorst looked outside to see the man with a badge on his shirt. After briefly opening the door to find the man standing there alone with a hand behind his back, Tatgenhorst became skeptical and called Lake in the Hills Police. Police claim Wnek drove away and later returned while an officer was on the scene. A chase ensued and ended when Wnek pulled into Lake in the Hills police station lot, where he was finally arrested.

Tatgenhorst reportedly does not know Wnek personally and is unsure of his motives. Wnek's criminal case will be heard at the McHenry County Government Center in Woodstock.

Police: Lake in the Hills man impersonated U.S. marshal, www.dailyherald.com, November 22, 2011

Hector Barajas, 23, was charged with driving under the influence as a result of a two-car crash that left one man dead and three other people injured. One of the vehicles hit a light pole.

One victim was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital an hour after the crash. Two of the other victims were taken to the hospital in serious to critical condition, while the third was in good to fair condition.

Along with DUI charges, Barajas was cited for reckless driving, driving without insurance and speeding.

Man charged with drunken driving in Southeast side crash that killed 1, injured 3, www.chicagotribune.com, November 14, 2011

Mark F. Jorgensen, 34, allegedly sped by a squad car that was blocking a roadway during an investigation into an earlier crash. He continued westbound and passed a second squad car that had its emergency lights activated.

He was pulled over and subsequently arrested for driving under the influence. Jorgensen was also cited for operating an uninsured vehicle, fleeing or attempting to elude police, reckless driving, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, and failing to obey a police officer.

Cops: Intoxicated Aurora man speeds by police blockade, www.dailyherald.com, November 14, 2011

Mike Stojanovich, 51, was described by prosecutors as "absolutely hammered" when he was arrested for his sixth DUI. Stojanovich was arrested after he rear-ended a car and subsequently fled the scene. He was found by police officers shortly after the crash.

Stojanovich admitted to drinking at least one bottle of vodka. He was reportedly unable to walk and was taken to the hospital for blood testing where he had a BAC over three times the legal limit at 0.30.

Stojanovich had been convicted of DUI in 1990, 1992, 1997, 2006 and 2009. He will have to serve at least four and a half years of the nine year sentence for his most recent DUI.

Elmhurst man gets nine years for sixth DUI, www.dailyherald.com, November 10, 2011

"No-Refusal" enforcement was in full effect over Halloween weekend resulting in 7 DUI arrests in Kane County. Police officers form Carpentersville, East Dundee, Elgin, South Elgin, West Dundee and the Illinois State Police participated.

"No-Refusal" enforcement arranges for Assistant State's Attorneys to be on call to request search warrants from a Judge to obtain blood samples from suspects who refuse to provide a sample. Failing to comply with the search warrant can result in charges of contempt of court or obstruction of justice.

Two of the seven people arrested initially refused testing. One complied once he was informed they would get a search warrant and the other submitted to testing once the the search warrant was obtained. Blood alcohol levels from that night ranged from 0.05 to .021 percent.

Halloween "no refusal" effort nets 7 DUI arrest in Kane Co., www.dailyherald.com, November 9, 2011

Eric M. Barth, formerly of South Elgin, was sentenced to five years in jail and must also participate in Illinois Impact Incarceration Program for severely injuring a couple in a December 2010 DUI crash.

Barth, 22, was driving a Chevy pickup truck when his vehicle crossed into the opposite lane of traffic and struck another SUV head-on causing a sedan traveling behind the SUV to strike both vehicles. The driver and passenger of the SUV suffered serious injuries. The passengers of the other vehicles suffered minor injuries.

Barth fled the scene of the crash but returned shortly thereafter. Responding officers found two empty and two unopened beer cans on the floor of the the front driver's seat. Barth's blood alcohol level was more than 2 1/2 times the legal limit at .207 percent. He plead guilty to two counts of aggravated DUI.

Man gets five years for injuring couple in DUI crash, www.suntimes.com, November 7, 2011

Julio Duran, 27, was charged with aggravated DUI after crashing into an auto repair shop in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood around 1:20 a.m. last Friday. Duran allegedly measured a BAC of .294, more than the three times the legal limit.

Duran was taken in critical condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. He remained in the hospital on Saturday while a judge ordered him held on $250,000 bond.

Duran was also cited for Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident, Driving on a Revoked License and Driving without Insurance.

Drunken southwest side driver charged for Mount Greenwood Wreck, www.myfoxchicago.com, November 6, 2011

Geno Green, 25, was charged with felony aggravated DUI after a crash that left a 52 year old woman severely injured. The victim, who's name has not been released, was crossing the street when Green allegedly struck her with his vehicle throwing her onto the pavement. She was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition.

Green has also been charged with Possession of Marijuana, Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian, Failure to Carry a Driver's License and Failure to Reduce Speed.

Court records show Green was previously charged with felony Possession of a Controlled Substance in 2010 but charges were later dropped. He was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance in connection to a Traffic case earlier this year but those charges were also dropped.

Man charged with DUI in crash that severely injured woman, www.chicagotribune.com, October 26, 2011