'Liquid Diet' Equals DUI for Homewood Woman

SATURDAY, JULY 30

Laina Shlaes, of the 3100 block of Olive, was pulled over after driving 50 mph in a 30 mph zone, police said. When the officer spoke to Shlaes, he noticed a strong smell of alcohol, that her eyes were glassy, and her speech was slurred, according to the report.

When Shlaes exited her blue Dodge van to take the sobriety test, the officer saw an orange pill container fall from her vehicle, and the pill container had a strong odor of cannabis, according to the report. The officer then retrieved two clear plastic bags with a green, leafy substance and a glass pipe with cannabis residue from the floor of Shlaes' van, police said.

Shlaes recounted that her evening started with a 7 p.m. meal of sloppy joe sandwiches, then progressed to a midnight visit to Ridgewood Tap, 2059 Ridge Rd., police said. Next, Shlaes told police she visited a second bar in Chicago Heights from 2 a.m. until 3 a.m. During the three hours spent at the two bars, Shlaes said she consumed four Miller Lite beers, one Jägerbomb (a concoction of Jägermeister and Red Bull energy drink), and two "cherry bomb" mixed drinks, according to the report. 

Shlaes attempted and failed three field sobriety tests, then underwent a breath test at the station, which yielded an alcohol breath concentration of .148, police said.

She was charged with one count of driving under the influence of alcohol, one count of driving with an alcohol breath concentration of .08 or more, speeding, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, police said. Shlaes was given a court date of Sept. 16 in Markham.