Bensenville resident Fernando Lopez, 35, faces two felony charges of DUI after an officer reported seeing him driving his 1988 Ford Temp erratically just after 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 29.
Police received a call of a possible drunk driver eastbound on 31st Street from Maple Avenue who was swerving numerous times into the oncoming lane of traffic.
A Brookfield officer located the vehicle at the stoplight at First Avenue. The car turned north, reportedly striking the far curb and then swerving back and forth several times.
When Lopez finally pulled over some two blocks later, the officer reported that he drove the car fully up onto the sidewalk. Lopez allegedly produced a Mexican driver’s license when asked for his identification.
According to the report, Lopez did not possess a valid driver’s license or vehicle insurance and blew a .197 on the Breathalyzer. As a result, his DUI charge was upgraded to felony status.
Theft
Brookfield police charged Chicago resident Jesse J. Aguinaga, 27, with a felony count of retail theft after he allegedly fled from CVS, 8911 Ogden Ave., with over $260 worth of makeup products on Dec. 28 at 8:50 a.m.
An employee reportedly saw Aguinaga conceal several items under his jacket. When confronted, Aguinaga reportedly fled outside, but the employee was able to recover the items and Aguinaga’s jacket before he fled southbound on Prairie Avenue in a black van.
Aguinaga was reportedly IDed in a photo lineup, and police later arrested him at his residence.
DUI
Brookfield police charged Forest View resident Benjamin A. Mirowski, 20, with driving under the influence after he allegedly drove his 1999 Pontiac Grand Am onto the west parkway in the 4600 block of Maple Avenue, struck a speed limit sign and then swerved back east across the street before coming to rest on the east parkway at 2:20 a.m. on Dec. 28.
According to police, Mirowski’s blood-alcohol level was .176, which is over twice the legal limit of .08. He was also cited for driving on a suspended license and damage to village property among other things.
Riverside police charged Chicago resident Anthony G. Menotti, 21, with DUI after an officer reported seeing his gray Toyota drifting between lanes while southbound on Harlem Avenue in the 3400 and 3500 blocks just before 3 a.m. on Jan. 6, at one point forcing another car to swerve to avoid him.
After being stopped at Blackhawk Road, Menotti reportedly appeared intoxicated to police, who added he failed field sobriety tests. A breath test later reportedly revealed a blood-alcohol content of .203, which is nearly three times the legal limit.
Police also reported that during a search of Menotti’s vehicle, they discovered a plastic baggy containing 4 grams of what field tested positive for cannabis in the center console.
He was also cited for possession of cannabis and improper lane usage.
Christopher J. Mercado, 37, of Brookfield, was charged with DUI and possession of cannabis after being pulled over by Riverside police just after 4 a.m. on Dec. 31 for allegedly speeding 56 mph in a 35 mph zone while southbound on First Avenue near Forest Avenue.
According to the report, the officer followed Mercado’s Jeep Cherokee, which drifted between southbound lanes before turning westbound on Ogden Avenue and being curbed in the 8200 block.
Police reported that Mercado appeared intoxicated and was arrested. They also reported finding a baggy filled with cannabis on Mercado’s person and another in the center console of the vehicle. In total police said they recovered 11 grams of cannabis.
Mercado reportedly refused to submit to any field sobriety tests. After posting bond, Mercado reportedly left the personal property bag, which police had given back to him, on the floor of the booking room, filled with urine.
For that he was cited for damage to public property.
Lyons resident Adan Torres, 27, faces a felony charge of DUI after police reported him driving drunk despite having neither a valid driver’s license or vehicle insurance just after 3 a.m. on Jan. 3.
According to the report, Torres was driving his silver Mitsubishi Eclipse 56 mph in a 30 mph zone and drifting between lanes in the 3400 block of Harlem Avenue. A breath test reportedly revealed that his blood-alcohol level was .188, which over twice the legal limit.
These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside and Brookfield police departments from Dec. 2, 2007 through Jan. 6, 2008 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime. The cases have not been adjudicated.
-Compiled by Bob Uphues
