Crime & Safety

South Suburban DUI Arrests, June 9

One driver recently arrested proclaimed his love for America just before getting charged with DUI. Read about that report and others in this week's roundup of Southland DUI arrests.

May 25: An organ donor confessed his love for his country during a traffic stop in Tinley Park.

Jose A. Rodriguez, 29, of the 15550 block of Park Avenue in Harvey, was charged with driving under the alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08 and driving without insurance, according to a Tinley Park police report. Police said two men they were watching got into a 2006 Jeep on May 25 and appeared to be heavily intoxicated, according to the report. The SUV was stopped at about 3:10 a.m. in the 6700 block of South Street.

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The driver, Rodriquez, allegedly had bloodshot eyes and an odor of alcohol on his breath, according to the report. He slurred his speech when he told police that he drank three or four Miller Lite beers at a local bar. He also admitted to having another beer and a $13 margarita at a Tim McGraw concert. During the stop, he repeatedly yelled about loving America and proclaimed that he was an organ donor, the report stated.

Rodriquez refused to take any field sobriety tests and was arrested, according to the report. He also took a breath test while in police custody. Rodriquez is due on June 18 in Bridgeview court.

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May 19: Michelle M. Dolan, 39, of the 16000 block of Crystal Creek Drive in Orland Park, was charged with driving under the influence, improper lane use and speeding, according to a Tinley Park police report. Police stopped a 2013 Chevrolet SUV at about 11:30 p.m. near the intersection of 171st Street and Oleander Avenue after they saw the vehicle traveling 51 mph in a 40-mph zone and cross the median twice, according to the report.

The driver, Dolan, allegedly told police she was on her way home after being out with a friend and had “about five beers,’ the report stated. She also asked police if she could take off her shoes when she was about to perform field sobriety tests, the report continued. Police arrested Dolan after she completed the tests, the report stated. While in custody, Dolan said that she was “not going to blow into that thing” and refused a breath test, the report continued.

Dolan was processed and released. She is due on June 18 in Bridgeview court.

NEW LENOX

June 2: Gerard Gnade, 56, of the 200 block of North White Street, Frankfort, was charged with driving under the influence, making an improper turn and improper lane use, according to a report. Gnade was stopped at about 3:05 a.m. near the intersection of Cooper Road and Sunset Trail. Police conducted a traffic stop after they saw a vehicle make an improper turn. An officer allegedly determined the driver was under the influence of alcohol. Gnade posted bond and was released.

HOMEWOOD

June 1: Jess O'Hern, 34, of the 18500 block of Poplar, Homewood, was charged with possession of marijuana, driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol content greater than 0.08, driving with an expired license, speeding and driving without insurance, according to a report. Police noticed a car driving at a high rate of speed at about 2:36 a.m. in the 18300 block of Halsted Street, according to a report. During a traffic stop, police noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car.

The driver, O’Hern, told police she was “drinking and smoking weed earlier in the day,” according to the report. She was arrested after performing field sobriety test and gave a breath test while in custody. Police also recovered 0.09 grams of marijuana.

PALOS HEIGHTS

May 26: David J. O’Connor, 53, of the 13600 block of Kickapoo Trail, Homer Glen, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of drug paraphernalia and improper lane use, according to a report. Police stopped a car for lane violations at about 12:41 a.m. in the 13700 block of South Harlem Avenue.

The driver allegedly had slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath, according to the report. Police arrested O’Connor after he took field sobriety tests. Police said they also could see a metal pipe used to smoke marijuana in plain view inside the car, according to the report. The pipe had burnt residue police suspected was marijuana.

Bail for O’Connor was set at $3,000. He is due on July 12 in Bridgeview court.

MIDLOTHIAN

May 18: Jennie M. Ryan, 35, of the 14600 block of South Kolin Avenue in Midlothian, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and failing to signal, according to a report. She was stopped at about 12:51 a.m. in the 4700 block of West 147th Street after a cop spotted her changing lanes without signaling.

During the stop, it reportedly took Ryan several tries to find her insurance information. Police arrested her after she performed field sobriety tests, the report stated. After being taken into custody, Ryan informed police that she “wasn’t taking any [bleeping] test” and refused to take the Breathalyzer, the report stated.

Ryan is due on June 20 in Markham court.

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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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