Driver Douses Himself in Cologne to Mask Booze Smell: Police

Riverside, IL - A driver stopped around 2:40 a.m. Jan. 27 for making an illegal U-turn and weaving through traffic reportedly poured cologne on his chest in an attempt to mask the smell of alcohol from a police officer.

It didn’t work. The Riverside police officer who stopped the driver on Riverside Road at Burling Road reported he could smell the strong odor of alcohol on the driver’s breath, after his senses were struck by the cologne smell.

The driver, Daniel F. Marquez, 34 of the 1900 block of North 17th Street in Melrose Park, had bloodshot, glassy and droopy eyes, according to Riverside police, and his speech was mumbled.

The officer also saw an open can of beer and beer in a Solo cup in the car. Marquez reportedly told the officer he was going home to Melrose Park, but he was driving south from Riverside, away from Melrose Park.

Marquez reportedly failed all the standard field sobriety tests. A passenger in the car was also intoxicated, he was drinking alcohol in the car and his pants fell off when he was asked to get out of the car, police reported.

At the police station, Marquez told police his name was Daniel Fernandez and he was 30 years old, but 24 hours of fingerprint and data checks showed his real name and age.

He had an active aggravated DUI felony warrant issued Oct. 25, 2012, by the Cook County Sheriff’s Police. Marquez also had 20 prior traffic arrests, including DUI arrests, driving while license suspended, revoked arrests and other traffic violations, police reported.

Since his first DUI arrest in April 2004, Marquez’ license had been suspended, and he changed his name, date of birth, and he used addresses in Cicero, Bellwood, Chicago and Melrose Park every time he was arrested afterward to keep police from finding his driving history and outstanding warrant.

Marquez was charged with aggravated felony DUI, a Class 3 felony, obstruction of identification, driving while license suspended based on DUI convictions, illegal U-turn, driving without insurance and possession of open alcohol by driver.

The passenger, a 33-year-old Melrose Park man, was charged with possession of open alcohol by a passenger.

Riverside Police also logged the outstanding no-bond felony aggravated DUI warrant issued by the Sheriff’s police.

Marquez was taken to bond court Jan. 28, and he has been held on the no-bond warrant. His bond set on the Riverside arrest was also no bond.

Photo courtesy of Riverside police.