Crime & Safety

South Suburban DUI Arrests, July 21

Getting behind the wheel drunk is one thing. Doing it with kids in the backseat is another. This week's roundup of Southland drunken driving reports.

By Nick Swedberg (Editor)

ORLAND PARK


July 1: An Orland Park woman was charged with drunken driving and endangering the life of a child. Jennifer M. Hendel, 32, of the 9700 block of Ravinia Lane, was charged with driving under the influence, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, two counts of endangering the life of a child and driving without insurance, according to an Orland Park police report. 

Police received a call at about 4:28 p.m. on July 1 from a witness who reported seeing a black Volkswagen Jetta driving all of the road on Ravinia Avenue. When police caught up to the car, they noticed that two small children were sitting in the backseat, police said. The cop followed the Jetta and saw it weaving in the lane and come close to striking the curb, according to the report. Even after the officer turn on his emergency lights, the Jetta continued to drive down Ravinia without stopping, according to the report. It wasn't until police blasted their air horn that the car turned into the Orland Park Public Library parking lot at 14921 Ravinia Avenue, police said.

Police who spoke with the driver, Hendel, noticed breath smelled like alcohol, the report states. Both children in the back were seated in safety seats. Hendel, who was wearing sandals, was asked if she wanted to perform field sobriety tests in her bare feet. After falling twice during those tests, she was arrested and taken to the Orland Park Police Department for booking. She took a breath test while at the police station. In addition to the DUI charges, Hendel also was given one count of endangering the life of a child for each of the children in her car. Hendel is due on Aug. 1 in Bridgeview court.

July 1: Dana A. Cervak, 58, of the 9200 block of Sunrise Lane, Orland Park, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, improper lane use, failing to yield to an emergency vehicle and driving without a seat belt, according to a report.

The driver of a blue Saturn was spotted not wearing a seatbelt at about 8:14 a.m., according to a report. An officer who followed the car noted that it was swerving side-to-side in the lane and would occasionally cross the road lines. The cop turned on his emergency lights but the car didn't stop for about four blocks.
Cervak told police he had a "few drinks" and wanted a break because he was a retired cop, the report states. An officer reported smelling an odor of alcohol on the driver's breath. Cervak was arrested after making numerous attempts to complete field sobriety tests.

Cervak was released on bond and provided with a ride home. He is due on Aug. 7 in Bridgeview court.

June 30: Timothy A. Gagni, 27, of the 9100 block of Sunrise Lane, Orland Park, was charged with driving under the influence, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08 and failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash, according to a report.

Police responded to a crash at about 9:40 p.m. in the 11200 block of 159th Street, according to a report. An officer reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol on one driver's breath. Gagni was arrested after taking field sobriety tests. 
Gagni is due on Aug. 15 in Bridgeview court.

June 8: Brian P. Zabrodski, 23, of the 16100 block of Wildwood Lane, Homer Glen, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, according to a report.
Zabrodski was found at about 8:30 a.m. sleeping in his white BMW, which was parked on the side of the road in the 10800 block of Crystal Springs Lane, according to a report. He allegedly had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Police arrested Zabrodski after he reportedly failed sobriety tests.

Zabrodski was due on June 24 in Bridgeview court.

CHICAGO HEIGHTS

July 10: Amber O. Davis, 28, of the 400 block of West 16th Street, Chicago Heights, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, driving without a license, disobeying a stop sign, illegally transporting alcohol and obstructing justice, according to a police report. 

Davis was stopped at about 2:28 a.m. near 14th Street and Vincennes Avenue after police allegedly saw her run a stop sign. During the stop, police noticed a plastic cup with liquor in a holder on the door. Davis told police she had one Corona that night. After taking field sobriety tests, Davis was taken into custody and cited. A breath test resulted in a BAL of 0.129.

Davis is due on Aug. 12 in Markham court.

July 9: Perry A. Conwell, 23, of the 100 block of Strieff Avenue, Chicago Heights, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, failing to yield at an intersection and driving with a suspended license, according to a report. Police said Conwell rolled through an intersection at about 2:59 a.m. and was stopped in the first block of West 14th Street. He allegedly had bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Conwell initially denied drinking that night but then admitted to having two shots and a beer about an hour before driving. 

Police arrested Conwell after he took field sobriety test and a portable breath test, which gave police a BAL of 0.102. He is due on Aug 12 in Markham court.
July 7: James W. Martinez, 33, of the 8100 block of South Latrobe Avenue, Burbank, was charged with driving under the influence, speeding and failing to signal while changing lanes, according to a report. Martinez was stopped at about 4:27 a.m. near the intersection of 14th Street and Brookwood Avenue after police spotted him drifting in his lane and speeding. He told police he drank two "Jaeger bombs" and two beers a couple of hours earlier that morning.

Martinez performed field sobriety tests but refused to take a breath test, according to police. He was cited and given a Aug. 12 court date in Markham.

OAK LAWN

June 30: A man was charged with DUI, speeding and underage consumption and possession of alcohol at 12:43 a.m. Sunday. Police said that Jose Dejesus was traveling 54mph in a 35mph zone when an officer pulled him over. When the officer asked if Dejesus knew how fast he was going, he allegedly said he had to go to the bathroom. The officer asked for ID, and Dejesus showed his military ID, stating that his driver’s license was taken when he’d received a speeding ticket on June 16 in Willow Springs, which he showed to the officer, police said.

According to the report, Dejesus's eyes appeared bloodshot and he smelled like alcohol. Dejesus denied that he had been drinking and was asked to get out of his car. 

Police said that Dejesus failed field sobriety tests. Stating that he "really had to pee," the officer allowed him to urinate behind an evergreen bush. After three attempts at a breath test, the first two where Dejesus tongue was covering the mouthpiece, he blew a 0.160, reports said.

Dejesus allegedly admitted to having a couple of mixed drinks at a friend’s house. He was placed under arrest. When the officer searched the car, he found an open and nearly empty 750mL bottle of Don Julio tequila in the trunk, reports said. Dejesus is due in court in Bridgeview on July 18.

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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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