Cops Catch Coke-Faced Gang Member Drinking Behind the Wheel

A barely coherent Bolingbrook man with white powder on his face and a bottle of beer in his car was arrested Jan. 3 after Riverside police stopped him for speeding and striking curbs.

Joseph J. Caliendo, 32 of the 300 block of Lyons Drive in Bolingbrook, was charged with felony aggravated DUI, felony aggravated revoked license, misdemeanor DUI, open alcohol, speeding and improper lane usage, according to Riverside police.

A patrolling officer saw Caliendo speeding and driving recklessly at 12:35 a.m. Jan. 3 on First Avenue at 31st Street. The officer reported Caliendo was driving 57 mph in a 35 mph zone, and his car was crossing over the street from curb to curb, hitting a curb and then moving back into traffic.

Other cars on the road had to ”take evasive action” to keep from crashing, police reported.

Caliendo was stopped at First and Ridgewood Road. The officer reportedly smelled alcohol on Caliendo’s breath, and the officer saw white cocaine powder on his nose and upper lip.

Caliendo was slurring his words so badly the officer could barely understand him, police reported. He failed all field sobriety tests, and he was arrested for drunken driving and taken to the Riverside Police Department.

Before towing the car, police found a 40-ounce bottle of beer in the front passenger seat.

At the station, police learned Caliendo’s driver’s license was revoked, and he had three prior convictions for drunken driving and nine tickets for driving with a revoked license, police reported. He was also on parole, and he has 29 prior arrests and convictions, including dangerous drugs, assault, invasion of privacy, burglary, traffic offenses, robbery, obstruction of justice and theft.

Police reported Caliendo is a self-admitted, documented street gang member.

Felony review was contacted for enhanced charges based on the priors.

Photo via Riverside police.