Articles Posted in DUI

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Christine Ahn, 29, turned herself into police on May 1 for the fatal alcohol-related crash that occurred this past Christmas Eve in Chicago. Ahn, who is charged with aggravated DUI, has resigned from her position as a teacher’s aide at Hawthorn Elementary District 73 in Vernon Hills. She was been employed by that school district since 2008.

Chicago Police spokesman Officer Laura Kubiak stated that Ahn was driving north on Western Ave in Chicago in the early morning on Christmas Eve when she struck 30 year old Enrique Lituma. Lituma, 30, was pronounced dead a short time after being rushed to a nearby hospital. Ahn submitted to a blood test at the time of the accident. Police received results in February, and resulted in the above charges this week. A spokesman for the Cook County States Attorneys Office said Ahn could spend up to 14 years in prison of found guilty. Conklin said bond was set at $25,000.

Vernon Hills teacher aide charged with DUI in death of Chicago pedestrian www.dailyherald.com, May 4, 2012

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A Michigan horse trainer, Angus D. Lake, 42, convicted of DUI, was sentenced to nine years in prison for causing the death of his girlfriend, Michelle Eustis, as she went for a horse ride on Backstretch Road at Balmoral with one of her good friends. Eustis was riding a retired racehorse named Reendezvous bareback with Heather France. After a night of drinking at the racetrack, Lake got into his white Dodge Ram pickup and went after them speeding about 50 mph, more then twice the speed limit. The truck struck the horse, causing Eutis to be thrown and suffer fatal injuries. Eustis, who was riding on the back of the horse, died a few hours later. France suffered a broken leg and other injuries. The horse was gashed in its hindquarter, but survived. Lake’s blood-alcohol level was reported to be .147 shortly after the accident. The legal limit in Illinois is .08.

Michelle Eustis is survived by a seven-year-old daughter, Haley. A Will County judge had lectured Lake for failing to learn anything from his three prior alcohol-related arrests. Lake stated in court “I replay it over and over in my head almost every night. I wish I would’ve stopped myself from getting behind that wheel. I wish I could go back and change everything. All I can do is take responsibility and tell everyone how sorry I am.”

For more information please view: Boyfriend Charged in Horse Trainer’s Death After DUI Crash in Crete

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On June 8, 2011, Saul Chavez allegedly hit and killed a 66-year-old man, William McCann in Chicago. McCann was walking along Kedzie Avenue in Logan Square when he was struck by a vehicle. He was reportedly thrown into the air and landed on the hood of the car. Chavez was allegedly observed accelerating the vehicle, running over McCann, and dragging his body nearly 300 ft. Witnesses stated that Chavez exited the vehicle and tried to flee on foot, but was apprehended by an off-duty Chicago Police officer. Chavez’s blood alcohol level was reportedly 0.29, nearly four times the legal limit. He was charged with aggravated DUI causing death, and leaving the scene of an accident.

Chavez had just completed two years on probation for a previous aggravated DUI charge. When he was booked into Cook County Jail, there was an immigration detainer placed on him, to keep him from being released. However, in November 2011, Chavez was released from jail after his brother posted bond. It’s unknown why the detainer was ignored. Chavez was last seen in the Chicago area on the northwest side near Wilson and Kedzie. Chicago Police have failed to locate him thus far. The FBI are still on the look out for Saul Chavez. They ask that anyone with any information contact their office.

FBI Searches for Illegal Immigrant Charged with Aggravated DUI, www.myfoxchicago.com, April 13, 2012

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Grayslake police chief, Matt McCutcheon, was charged with DUI in Wisconsin. The charges came about after his involvement in a car accident while returning from a restaurant just over the state line with his wife. McCutcheon was turning onto Route 46 in Silver Lake when he allegedly struck a car on the highway around 10 p.m. on March 30, 2012. No one was injured in either vehicle.

McCutcheon was found by responding officers standing on the road when they arrived. The officers reported he appeared “dazed and confused.” McCutcheon was allegedly swaying and almost lost his balance as he pulled out his wallet, and showed his badge. McCutcheon lifted up his shirt and revealed to officers he was carrying a 9mm handgun with seven rounds in it, one of them in the chamber. Kenosha County deputy, William Soppe, reportedly could smell a strong odor of intoxicants coming from his breath. McCutcheons speech was slurred, his eyes were bloodshot and very glossy. McCutcheon told officers he had a few beers with dinner. However, he and his wife later admitted he had three vodka martinis.

Witnesses claim McCutcheon had been driving erratically before the accident, they could hear the tires of his car squeal as he made a sharp turn onto the highway. Another witness stated “the driver of the Honda was speeding up and slowing down multiple times.” Other witnesses said “it appeared the Honda made a last-minute decision to make the turn.”

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Innocent pedestrian, Jesse Bradley, 32, stepped out for a late night snack around 2:30 a.m. near LaSalle and Division, when he was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver.

Bianca Garcia, 21, had allegedly been driving in her Jeep Liberty two blocks the wrong way down a one-way street. Chicago Police stopped her a few blocks away shortly after the accident when they noticed her vehicle had front-end damage, was missing a headlight, and smoke was rising from the engine. Garcia refused to take a breath test. She and a 20-year-old woman, who was a backseat passenger, also declined medical attention. She was later charged for misdemeanor DUI, reckless driving, and driving without insurance or a driver’s license. She was arrested and her bond was set at $400,000. Bradley was taken to Northwestern and was pronounced dead at 2:54 a.m.

Bradley studied philosophy at Northwestern law school. His younger sister, Laura, who came to Chicago to help her mother with the funeral arrangements stated, “It’s just bizarre. It really shows you how life can change in an instant. He was healthy. He was living. And he died. He should not have died at 32.” His mother stated “He was a wonderful son. He was not suppose to be taken away. Not by somebody who was driving too fast and drinking. He didn’t stand a chance. He was just going to get something to eat across the street.”

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A party in the Gresham neighborhood over the weekend reportedly ended with a fight in the street. Denise Carter, of Chicago, allegedly jumped in her car, pulled a U-Turn, accelerated, and drove straight into the crowd that had gathered. The impact broke a woman’s shoulder and knee according to prosecutors, the rest of the group was able to get out of the way.

Carter’s BAC content allegedly registered .175 percent when she was arrested early Saturday morning. She was held on a $125,000 bond early Sunday morning by a Cook County judge. She is charged with aggravated DUI along with various traffic offenses. Carter already has a driving under the influence case pending against her from an incident in August.

Carter allegedly told officers that she was trying to escape the fight when the injured woman jumped in front of her vehicle. She was pulled from her vehicle and attacked by bystanders after the crash according to police.

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Last Tuesday, a Chicago police officer was sentenced to 3 years in prison for a fatal DUI crash. Officer Richard Bolling, 43, was off-duty when he struck Trenton Booker, 13, with his Dodge Charger in May of 2009. One of the two officers that stopped Bolling after he left the scene testified that her watch commander ordered her to “hold off” on conducting field-sobriety tests. The tests were eventually administered 2 hours after the crash. Both officers had claimed that Bolling passed the tests at the time of the crash but changed their opinion during their testimony at trial claiming he failed various parts of the sobriety tests. Bolling was finally given an breath test by an internal affairs sergeant 4 1/2 hours after the crash. His BAC registered below .08. A forensic toxicologist estimated Bolling’s BAC was as much as twice the legal limit (.16) at the time of the crash.

In January, Bolling was found guilty of aggravated DUI, reckless homicide, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. Bolling could have been sentenced to probation or up to 15 years in prison. He had no prior DUI charges or criminal record. Seven current and former cops as well as two retired judges asked the Judge for mercy during Bolling’s sentencing hearing. Bolling also gave an apology to the boy’s family. Ultimately, a Cook County judge sentenced Bolling to 3 years in prison. He will be placed upon 2 years of probation after his prison term. Also, he is required to speak about his experience at high schools and talk to recruits at the Chicago Police Academy about how to properly handle an investigation of another officer.

Chicago cop gets 3 years in DUI death of boy, 13, www.chicagotribune.com, March 6, 2012

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Sean Patrick Dailey, 33, a Chicago police officer was stopped for speeding and running a red light in November of 2010 in Niles. The Niles officer believed Dailey could be intoxicated and tried to cut the off-duty officer a break by letting him call a taxi for a ride home. Instead of calling a taxi, Dailey allegedly called 911 from a nearby motel and falsely reported a bar fight involving 50 people at a local bar. The Niles officer, who was watching from outside the motel, was dispatched to the bar. However, while en route to the bar, he learned on his radio that there was no such altercation at the bar. Upon returning to the motel, the officer found that Dailey and his car were gone. Reportedly, the calls to 911 were later traced to Dailey’s cell phone.

Over 10 months after this initial incident, Dailey was arrested for DUI in Niles. With a reported BAC of .14, he was sentenced to court supervision after pleading guilty. Niles police reported the 2010 incident to the Chicago police last March and an investigation was conducted. Dailey was relieved of his police powers and assigned to an administrative position. He is now charged with felony disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report. Dailey was releassed on $10,000 bond and faces up to 3 years in prison if convicted.

Cop accused of calling in fake bar fight to get police off his tail, www.suntimes.com, February 29, 2012

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Walter Thompson, 30, of Blue Island was charged with driving under the influence after his SUV allegedly caused a chain reaction accident that hit a man unloading a beer truck. A vehicle pinned the worker against a CTA bus Monday in the Morgan Park neighborhood.

Charles Kimbrough, 45, and a co-worker were unloading the beer truck around 3 p.m. when a vehicle struck and pinned him up against a CTA bus that was stopped to pick up passengers. Reportedly, five vehicles were involved in the crash. The driver of the SUV allegedly attempted to flee but was was arrested. Three people, including the CTA bus driver and a passenger were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Thompson received several traffic tickets including DUI, driving on a revoked or suspended license, and leaving the scene of an accident. Police claim they will seek felony charges.

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Frank Caruso, of Westchester, was involved in a minor accident on the Eisenhower Expressway on Saturday at about 1 a.m.. A state trooper arrived on the scene and positioned his vehicle with his emergency lights activated to warn other motorists of the accident. Caruso sat in the back of the squad to keep warm while waiting for a tow truck to arrive. At approximately 1:20 a.m., the squad car was rear-ended by a Chevy Impala. Caruso was taken to Elmhurst hospital where he was pronounced dead. The trooper sustained a concussion.

Daniel Clark, 32, of Chicago, was behind the wheel of the Impala and was charged with aggravated DUI involving death and aggravated DUI involving great bodily harm. He was also charged with failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, driving too fast for conditions, and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident according to the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office. Clark was taken to Alexian Brothers Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. He was ordered to be held on a $1 million bond Sunday in DuPage County.

Man waiting in squad car dies after vehicle rear-ended, www.chicagotribune.com, February 12, 2012

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