Crime & Safety

Police Blotter: Stolen SUV Found During Traffic Stop, DUIs Reported

Darien police reports, Dec. 24-Jan. 2

Monday, Jan. 2

Stolen SUV found during traffic stop

said they recovered a Jeep SUV stolen from Willowbrook when the suspect was pulled over around 12:15 a.m. on the 7900 block of Cass Avenue in connection with having a burned-out headlight. The driver, who is described as either white or Hispanic, bald and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, fled on foot before he could be taken into custody, according to the report. The SUV was returned to its owner undamaged and without anything missing.

Saturday, Dec. 31

Curfew and drug equipment violations

Four male teens—three from Westmont and one from Darien—were cited with curfew violations around 12:50 a.m. near the intersection of Seminole and Timber, police said. One teen, who had a marijuana pipe on him, was also cited with possession of drug equipment, the report said. 

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Friday, Dec. 30

Stolen credit cards

Credit cards from a purse the owner believes she dropped in the Jewel parking lot around 9:30 a.m. were used for purchases in Darien and Woodridge, police said. It’s not known where the cards were used or what was bought.

Wednesday, Dec. 28

DUI on Cass

Brian A. Strzemp, 26, 7200 Fair Elms in Burr Ridge, was arrested on the 8000 block of Cass Avenue around 1:35 a.m. Dec. 28, police said. Officers said they saw him traveling 63 mph on Cass Avenue and 65 mph on Plainfield Road, both of which are 40 mph zones. He also swerved between lanes, the report said. Strzemp spoke with slow, slurred speech, had red, watery eyes and smelled of alcohol when officers pulled him over, according to the report. Officers said an open, upright can of beer was plainly visible on his car’s backseat floor. Strzemp’s blood alcohol levels were three-and-a-half times the legal limit, according to Breathalyzer results, police said. He was charged with two counts of DUI — physical control and over .08 — illegal transportation of alcohol, two counts of speeding and improper lane usage. He was released to his father with a Jan. 24 court date. 

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Tuesday, Dec. 27

Shoplifted water filters

A woman stole water filters worth about $22 from the Cass Avenue Walgreens around 6:05 p.m., police said. Employees described the suspect as a black woman, about 35 years old, 5-foot-7-inches tall, 130 pounds, and wearing jeans and a checkered hat. She left the parking lot in a Ford Explorer. 

Sunday, Dec. 25

DUI tied to accident

Stephen J. Chakkalakel, 51, of the 1300 block of Tower Hill Drive in Woodridge, was arrested around 3:35 p.m., police said. Chakkalakel’s car rear-ended another car stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of 87th and Lemont, police said. When police questioned him, he smelled strongly of alcohol and had slurred speech and red, glassy eyes, according to the report. His blood alcohol levels were more than the legal limit, according to Breathalyzer test results. He was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and two counts of DUI—one for more than .08 blood-alcohol content and one for physical control—and given a Feb. 7 court date. 

Saturday, Dec. 24

Drowsy driver

Manolo Martinez, 31, of the 4100 block of West 75th Street in Chicago, was arrested around 12:05 a.m. Dec. 24 on Interstate 55 near Lemont Road, police said. Officers said they saw a semi-truck brake abruptly after Martinez swerved left across three lanes before returning to the right lane. Martinez had red, glassy eyes and smelled strongly of alcohol when officers pulled him over, according to the report. He told police he had drank several beers before falling asleep in the squad car en route to the Darien Police Department. He declined to take a Breathalyzer test. Police charged Martinez with driving under the influence, driving without a license and improper lane usage. He was given a Jan. 23 court date.


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