South Suburban DUI Arrests, Dec. 2

TINLEY PARK

Nov. 11: Benjamin D. Reardon, 24, of the 16500 block of Blossom Lane, ran a red light at Harlem Avenue around 2:50 a.m., as he drove his red, 1996 Dodge Stratus southbound on Harlem Avenue while Cook County Sheriff's officer was in pursuit, police said.

Once pulled over near the intersection of 168th Street and Harlem Avenue, a Tinley Park police officer and a Cook County sheriff's deputy spoke with Reardon, whose speech was slurred and eyes bloodshot and watery, the report stated. The Tinley Park officer said she could smell alcohol on his breath, and she asked Reardon if he had been drinking, the report continued. Reardon replied, "A little," and the sheriff's officer reported seeing about four cans of Miller High Life underneath Reardon's coat, which he wasn't wearing, the report stated.

Reardon failed three field sobriety tests and was arrested, the report stated. A search of the car uncovered 11 cold cans of beer in the sleeves and underneath Reardon's coat, the report continued. At the Tinley Park Police station, Reardon refused to take a breath test, saying, "That machine looks too medical," according to the report. He also refused to sign a statement saying he understood his Miranda rights, telling the officer that he felt she was trying to trick him, the report stated. Reardon was released to his father on an I-bond and paid a $500 car impound fee, the report stated.

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NEW LENOX

Nov. 23: Edward McIntosh, 48, of the 900 block of Somerset Street, was charged with DUI and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident after a collision at Route 30 and Schoolhouse Road. 

Nov. 21: Tara Brown, 28, of the 100 block of S. Cooper Road, was cited for DUI and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident after rear-ending a vehicle in the 600 block of E. Route 30, police said. The driver of the car that Brown struck complained of neck soreness and was taken to Silver Cross Hospital. However, while investigating the accident, police said Brown smelled of alcohol and later failed a field sobriety test.

Nov. 18: Patrick T. White, 25, of the 2800 block of S. Centurion Lane in New Lenox, was arrested on charges of driving under the influence, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, improper lane usage, illegal transportation of alcohol and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. The arrest occurred after White lost control of his vehicle flipped his car in the front yard of a residence, striking a tree on the 300 block of E. Joliet Highway in New Lenox. He was taken to Silver Cross Hospital by the New Lenox Fire Protection District for non-life threatening injuries.

HOMEWOOD

Nov. 22: A Woodridge man was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after he rear-ended a semi truck at the intersection of Maple Road and Halsted Street just after 2 a.m. on Nov. 22, according to police. Michael Rinkenberger, 32, of the 2800 block of Forest Glen in Woodridge, was waiting in his car after the accident when police arrived, according to reports. Police say Rinkenberger’s breath smelled of alcohol and that he was unable to stand without using his car for support. He failed an eye movement field sobriety test, according to reports. Rinkenberger was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher and failure to reduce speed to avoid accident.

CHICAGO HEIGHTS

Nov. 18: Edwardo Mendez, 36, of the 200 block of East 22nd Street, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after police stopped him near the intersection of 16th Street and Campbell Avenue for running two stop signs, according to the report. Mendez was unable to provide a driver's license and had two open beers in his cup holder, police said. Police had Mendez perform field sobriety tests before taking him in to custody. Mendez was also charged with driving on a suspended license, no valid registration, illegal transportation or possession of alcohol and two counts of disobeying a stop sign, according to the report.

Nov. 18: Jose Gonzalez, 40, of the 200 block of East 24th Street in Chicago Heights, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after police stopped him in the 1500 block of Otto Blvd. for hitting and riding the curb, according to the report. Gonzalez was unable to produce a valid driver's license or proof of insurance, police said. Police asked Gonzalez if he had been drinking, to which he responded, "Yes, I had seven beers," according to the report. Police had Gonzalez perform field sobriety tests before taking him into custody. Gonzalez was also charged with improper lane usage, no proof of valid insurance and no valid driver's license, police said.

Police report information is provided by local police departments. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.