Illinois DUI Headlines in the News

Chicago Police Officer John Ardelean Back in the News
Last week the Cook County State Attorney’s office announced that they were reopening the investigation into the fatal car crash involving Chicago police officer John Ardelean last Thanksgiving. In a prior blog entry I mentioned that Cook County Judge Donald Panarese ruled there was not enough evidence to support felony charges against Ardelean. Ardelean refused to take a field sobriety test at the scene of the crash and did not submit to a blood or breath test until nearly eight hours after the accident. At the time of testing, Ardelean’s blood alcohol level was .032; well below the legal limit of .08. A state police investigator offered the opinion that at the time of the crash, Ardelean’s blood alcohol level as .104 to .177.

The state attorney’s office continued to investigate the case even after Judge Panarese’s ruling, but in May decided there was insufficient evidence to file new charges. The office informed the families of the victims that they were dropping the case. However, the case was reopened last week after First Assistant State Attorney Bob Milan viewed videotape footage from the Martini Ranch bar where Ardelean had been drinking prior to the crash. Previously, Milan had viewed only a portion of the videotape footage. Footage from the bar had recently aired on local television stations showing Ardelean having a drink poured down his throat by a female patron and appearing to grab a beer on his way out of the bar.

According to Milan’s office, Milan had previously viewed a different, incomplete version of the security videotape from the bar. Ardelean’s defense team disputes this statement, saying there is only videotape from the bar and the state attorney’s office has had access to it since the week of the accident. Ardelean is currently on leave from the Chicago Police Department and is the subject of an internal police investigation. I’ll continue to update you on any new developments with this case.

Bus Driver Held on DUI Charge
A bus driver driving a Coach USA Megabus express bus from Chicago bound for Detroit was pulled over on Interstate 94 near the Michigan/Indiana border after a state trooper noticed the bus appeared to be weaving. The driver, a Chicago resident, failed a field sobriety test and was arrested and booked into Berrien County jail awaiting arraignment on drunk driving charges. Another driver from the bus line was brought in to drive the 30 passengers on the bus to Detroit.

If you hold a commercial driver’s license and are accused of a DUI law violation, be forewarned that a DUI conviction will impact your livelihood. If you are arrested for violating Illinois’ DUI laws, contact an experienced DUI attorney immediately. In order to preserve your rights, you should seek legal counsel without delay.