Chicago DUI Lawyer Blog

Chicago Police Officer Harold Rodriguez, 46, is facing lawsuits filed by three former DUI defendants for wrongful-arrest. Gregory Sledge, one of the three men making these allegations against Rodriguez, claims he was framed last year for driving under the influence. Rodriguez claimed in his police report that he smelled a strong scent of burning cannabis emanating from Sledge’s vehicle. However, no drugs were ever recovered. Additionally, all three men claim that Rodriguez stole money from their wallets after they were arrested. Their attorney alleges that Rodriguez “wanted to supplement his city salary, so he abused his badge and power to coerce bribes, steal cash and falsely arrest innocent people for the overtime pay associated with DUI arrests.” A fourth individual is suing Rodriguez for stealing $400 in a traffic stop that ultimately did not result in an arrest.

Rodriguez was arrested in September on corruption charges after he was allegedly caught taking a $5,000 bribe in a Dunkin’ Donuts bag to fix a traffic case. After the arrest, prosecutors dropped the DUI cases against all three men that filed suit for wrongful-arrest.

Men claim Chicago cop falsely arrested them for DUI, www.suntimes.com, May 24, 2013

Limo/Party bus driver, Richard Madison, 54, of Palos Hills is charged with DUI after driving 24 students to their high school prom. The teens reportedly witnessed Madison jump a median and cut off three cars before taking the teens to the wrong hotel 5 miles from their actual destination. There were also reports that the driver had red eyes and was stumbling. Some of the students called their parents due to the erratic driving. Two off-duty police officers handled the situation when the limo arrived at the prom. Madison was subsequently arrested by DuPage County Sheriff’s deputies for driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless conduct.

Madison’s BAC was allegedly six times the legal limit for a person operating with a commercial driver’s license (CDL). The legal limit is .04 for CDL drivers. Madison claims mechanical issues were at fault and he is innocent of the allegations.

Chicago limo driver arrested for drunk driving after taking 23 teens to prom, www.foxnews.com, May 13, 2013

Julio Martinez may be awarded $325,000 after sustaining a beating by a Chicago Police officer while handcuffed to a metal bar in a holding room after falsely charged with DUI. Martinez, a hemophiliac, was treated for a possible skull fracture in March 2006 after being beaten by Officer John Haleas. Haleas was formerly known as a “top DUI cop” for making a high volume of DUI arrests in Chicago, but eventually lost his badge after accusations of falsifying DUI arrests arose in 2008. He pled guilty last year to attempted obstruction of justice and received a five-day suspension, which was eventually reduced to a one-day suspension. He is now assigned to the Records Division earning nearly $81,000 a year. Alderman Willie Cochran has called the position “unacceptable.”

In 2005/06, Haleas made 718 arrests, but 156 of those arrests were dismissed after he was himself arrested. Two Cook County prosecutors witnessed the officer’s alleged failure to give a DUI suspect a field sobriety test or read a DUI suspect the warnings of refusing or taking a breathalyzer test. Nine lawsuits were reportedly filed against Haleas and the City of Chicago, with more than 25 people alleging wrongdoing by Haleas.

On Monday, the City Council’s Finance Committee recommended the $325,000 settlement. The recommendation will go to the full council on Wednesday for approval.

William Reece, 49, of Carpentersville was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison for his ninth DUI conviction. According to Kane County officials, he was convicted after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated driving under the influence on March 7th. The DUI was charged as a Class X felony because it occurred after a fifth DUI conviction. Reece also pled guilty to driving on a revoked license, charged as a Class 4 felony.

The DUI stems from a traffic stop conducted by the West Dundee police on September 1st. Police allege that Reece’s vehicle crossed the center line. Upon further investigation, police claim he had slurred speech, glassy, red eyes and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Reports state that he had difficulty retrieving his license and dropped the contents of his wallet on the car floor along with his cellphone. Reece refused to take field sobriety tests and admitted drinking. He consented to a breath test at the station, registering a BAC of .219 percent, almost three times the legal limit.

Between 1987 and 2007, Reece had eight DUI convictions occurring in Kane County and Lake County resulting in three prison terms. Reece is eligible for day-for-day credit during his prison sentence, effectively cutting his length of stay in half. He was also given credit for 235 days served in custody at Kane County Jail since his arrest.

Mark Ditka, 50, of Deerfield, pled guilty Wednesday to felony drunk driving and unlawful possession of a controlled substance at the Lake County Courthouse. Prosecutors allege that he was pulled over by police after he was observed weaving on Waukegan Road in Deerfield on October 7, 2012. The legendary coach’s son was sentenced to 24 months probation and required to complete 200 hours of public service work. He must also abide by a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and random drug tests. In addition, he is not allowed to frequent any establishment whose primary purpose is the distribution of alcohol. Ditka was facing a maximum 3 years in prison.

Although this marks his fourth DUI arrest, the new charge is his first conviction for driving under the influence. He was additionally charged with drug possession after police allegedly discovered hydrocodone pills his car at the time of arrest. Ditka did not have a prescription for the painkillers. A pending DUI from 2011 was dismissed as part of the plea agreement with Lake County prosecutors.

Ditka’s son pleads guilty to DUI, avoids jail, www.suntimes.com, January 30, 2013