DUI Driver Falls Asleep, Crashes With Child In Car: Blotter

LAKE FOREST, IL — The following information comes from Lake Forest and Lake Bluff police and Lake County court records as a record of those arrested by police. Readers are reminded that an arrest is not an indication of guilt, and criminal charges, which represent merely accusations by the state, are often dropped or reduced. Updated information may be available from the Lake County Circuit Clerk of Courts. All persons named are innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

Juan J. Galindo, 29, of the 500 block of 10th Street, Waukegan, was arrested around 4:45 p.m. on April 10 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a traffic stop near the intersection of Route 176 and Green Bay Road. Galindo said told police he had been coming from brunch where he drank "like one or two" mimosas. Police reported said he had topped drinking around noon and believed the current time to be 1:30 p.m. Galindo declined to provide a breath sample after he was placed under arrest. Officers also issued him citations for operating an uninsured motor vehicle and failure to signal when required.

Charles A. Holmes, 44, of the first block of North Crooked Lake Lane, Lindenhurst, was arrested around 12:30 a.m. on April 24 and charged with felony aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended license, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol with a breath alcohol concentration of 0.08 or greater, after he was pulled over in a 2006 Audi on Route 41. Officers reported he appeared intoxicated and told them he was "drunk" due to drinking "a lot" of tequila. After he was taken into custody, he produced a breath sample indicating he had a BAC of 0.217, more than two and a half times the legal limit for impairment. Officers also cited him for no vehicle insurance.

Tiffany L. Jenkins, 42, of the 1000 block of Central Avenue, Highland Park, was arrested around 4:30 p.m. on April 24 and charged with two counts of felony aggravated driving under the influence of alcohol, misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a suspended license following an investigation into a one-car traffic crash on Route 41 near Gage Lane. Officers also issued her a citation for driving an uninsured motor vehicle, and neither Jenkins nor her teenage son were injured in the crash. Officers determined Jenkins, who had a suspended license due to a prior DUI arrest, had been drinking alcohol before driving and was speeding when she fell asleep at the wheel and drove into the center median.

Alex Demaret, 26, of the 8500 block of South Manistee Avenue, Chicago, was arrested around 6 a.m. on May 1 and charged with driving under the influence, fleeing and eluding police and excessive speeding after a police dog tracked him down as he fled from the scene of a pursuit and crash. Officers were dispatched to a report of a car speeding on Route 41 driving with a high rate of speed on flat tires and while dragging a muffler. When police tried to pull the car over, it continued driving 96 mph and refused to stop for lights or sirens. Lake Forest police stopped chasing and the car continued north on Route 41 until it crashed at Route 120. After Lake County K9 Dax tracked him down and officers took him into custody, Demaret was also issued citations for no vehicle insurance and open transportation of alcohol.

Roderick L. Henry, 41, of the 800 block of Sheridan Road, Winthrop Harbor, was arrested around 7:15 p.m. on May 2 on a warrant stemming from an allegation he failed to appear in McHenry County court. Police pulled him over in a Volvo for having expired registration and discovered the active arrest warrant.

Edwin F. Mendez Meraz, 27, of the 900 block of Deerfield Road, Highland Park, was arrested around 1 a.m. on May 7 and charged with aggravated driving under the influence, aggravated driving with a suspended license, driving with a suspended license and unlawful possession of cannabis by a driver following a traffic stop near Sheridan and Old Elm roads. Officers pulled him over for speeding and immediately suspected he was intoxicated. When they first encountered him, he was rushing to eat a hamburger, and he later admitted drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana prior to getting behind the wheel. Officers also issued him citations for speeding and no vehicle insurance.

Geno Bernardi, 34, of the 700 block of Burchell Avenue, Highland Park, was arrested around 1:45 a.m. on May 8 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a report of a hit-and-run on southbound Route 41 in North Chicago. Officers located a vehicle matching the description of the car and tried to pull it over just south of Old Elm Road, although it did not stop until the Mobil station at Route 22. The driver smelled strongly of alcohol, and he and his female passenger both appeared highly intoxicated. Police described Bernardi as uncooperative and placed him under arrest.

Judith Rodriguez, 23, of the 500 block of Bank Lane, Highwood, was arrested around 4 a.m. on May 8 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a one-car crash on Route 41 at Route 60 where a car was reported to have driven off the road and into some trees. Officers found a 2020 Volkswagen about 100 feet off the road and Rodriguez, its driver, unharmed. She said she had multiple alcoholic mixed drinks and multiple shots before getting behind the wheel, and when police asked if she thought she should be driving, she said, "probably not." After she was taken into custody she produced a sample indicating her breath alcohol concentration was 0.13, more than one and a half times the legal limit for alcohol intoxication.

Earlier: Northbrook Man Assaults School Staff; Squatters With Stun Gun; No Charges Filed Over Gun Found During Warrant Arrest: Lake Forest Police Blotter, March 30 to April 18

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