Drunken Drivers Charged In Thanksgiving Patrols In Riverside
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Police in Riverside are ramping up patrols in hopes of preventing drunk drivers during the Thanksgiving holiday week, and it's already proving to be successful.
Authorities made two arrests in the western suburb over the weekend, charging two different men with DUI's. Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel tells WBBM both drivers had similar and somewhat disturbing explanations. WBBM's Andy Dahn reports.
"The individuals we are stopping said that they were out at either family events or partying at bars for early Thanksgiving celebrations," Weitzel says. "They're getting in their vehicles and driving. It's really something that's happening more frequently and now it's even happening earlier than the traditional Wednesday before Thanksgiving."
Weitzel said police have also seen an increase in drug driving incidents, especially during the holidays.
At 3:06 a.m. Friday, an officer pulled over a vehicle that was driving 54 mph in a 30 mph zone and weaving around traffic on Harlem Avenue, according to a statement from Riverside police. The vehicle did not immediately stop, but turned onto the 300 block of East Burlington.
The 25 year-old driver, Edward Lopez, smelled of alcohol and failed all sobriety tests, police said. He told officers his license was suspended for a prior DUI. After a half empty bottle of Jameson was found in his car, Lopez told officers he had been taking shots of Jameson all night, and continued to do so while driving.
Lopez, of the 2600 block of South Grove Avenue in Berwyn, was charged with aggravated drunk driving, driving with a suspended license, speeding, driving with open alcohol and several other traffic violations. Officers then learned Lopez was also wanted for a traffic warrant for driving while his license was suspended due to a prior DUI conviction.
At 2:16 a.m. Saturday, an officer pulled over a vehicle that was driving 50 mph in a 30 mph zone and was also drifting into other lanes of traffic, police said. After being stopped, the driver, 33-year-old Eugene Garza, told the officer he was on his way home from a bar in Berwyn where he had been drinking all night.
Garza failed all field sobriety tests and had a .19 blood alcohol content, police said. While searching his car, police found open cans of beer along with an ice chest stocked with more beer. Garza told officers after he left the bar, he decided to purchase more liquor for his drive home to Chicago. After he was arrested, police also found cannabis and drug paraphernalia.
Garza, of the 1900 block of West 34th Place, was charged with DUI, speeding, transportation of open alcohol, possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia.
"Riverside police will continue to arrest drunk and drugged drivers, however, we cannot arrest our way out of this behavior," Weitzel said. "Society needs to put stronger emphasis and resources into the current social programs to help curb alcoholism and illegal drug use."
Officers in unmarked cars will be set up in various locations throughout the holiday season, keeping an eye out for impaired drivers.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2016. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)