Man 'Drank 12-Ounce Modelo': Ford Focus Faces Vehicle Forfeiture After Joliet Police DUI Arrest

JOLIET, IL — One of the priorities of the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow, in addition to prosecuting criminal defendants, is the use of the state's civil forfeiture laws. It's not uncommon for Glasgow's attorneys to file multiple vehicle forfeiture cases on the same day.

On Wednesday, a forfeiture complaint was filed seeking to confiscate a gray 2014 Ford Focus owned by a Joliet resident who allowed Edgar Hernandez-Martinez, 33, of Joliet, to drive his car. In late September, along Joliet's east side, Hernandez-Martinez committed the crime of aggravated DUI, and he was driving an uninsured vehicle, the forfeiture indicated.

Back on Sept. 19, the forfeiture noted, Joliet police officer Knabel was notified of a reckless driving incident along southbound Collins Street; a car was weaving in and out of traffic. The officer spotted a 2014 Ford Focus driving in the center boundary lane between Williamson and Meeker for about three blocks. Hernandez-Martinez was the driver when the traffic stop was made along eastbound Meeker at Collins Street at 10:56 p.m.

A Spanish-speaking officer was requested after Hernandez-Martinez's eyes were extremely bloodshot and glassy, court files show. Prosecutors say Martinez-Hernandez told Joliet police he had one 12 ounce can of Modelo beer about 10 to 15 minutes prior. He then refused to perform any field sobriety test, court files note.

At the scene, Officers Williams and Johnston talked with Ricardo Xol Cacao, the passenger and registered owner of the Ford Focus.

Joliet police saw an open 32-ounce bottle of Corona Familiar on the passenger floorboard, the complaint indicated. Officer Trujillo took Hernandez-Martinez away in handcuffs on DUI charges. After a 20-minute observation period, Hernandez-Martinez refused to provide a breath sample, according to prosecutors. He was then given citations for a DUI and operating without insurance.

This week, a notice was sent to the vehicle's passenger, Ricardo Xol Cacao of Joliet's Landau Avenue, advising that his Ford Focus is now the subject of a Dec. 3 forfeiture hearing at the Will County Courthouse. On Sept. 19, Officer Johnson gave Xol Cacao a pair of traffic tickets: possession of open alcohol by a passenger and one for not wearing a seatbelt as a passenger.