Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Park Forest police arrested a Chicago Heights man last week when an officer in a marked police vehicle traveling southbound on Western Avenue near Fir Street, observed a vehicle allegedly swerve over the dotted yellow line and back onto the curb lane, almost striking the curb, according to police.
Bryan W. Wells, 22, 1313 Center Ave., Chicago Heights, was arrested on March 6 and charged with improper lane usage, illegal transportation of alcohol, failure to properly secure a child, suspended driver’s license, and obstruction. A passenger in the vehicle, Dextel W. Carter, 19, 6944 S. Honore, Chicago, was also arrested and charged with possession of cannabis.
Police said they curbed the vehicle Wells was driving in the entrance to Court G-1/G-2 on Western Avenue. Wells gave police a different name, advising them that he did not have a driver’s license, according to police. While speaking to Wells, Officer Shulman observed a blue plastic cup in the center console cup holder, an infant improperly secured in a child safety seat, according to police. Police said the child safety seat was secured by having a shoulder strap of a seatbelt crossing over the infant’s face.
Officer Shulman asked Wells what was in the cup, and he replied, “Juice,” according to police. Officer Shulman then asked Wells to hand him the cup in an attempt to smell if the cup contained an alcoholic beverage. According to police, Wells grabbed the cup as if he were going to comply, then allegedly opened the driver’s door of the vehicle, striking Officer Shulman with the door, and pouring the contents of the drink onto the ground, according to police.
Officer Shulman radioed for additional officers to respond to the scene. Officer Shulman opened the driver’s door of the vehicle and handcuffed Wells, according to police. Police said Wells repeatedly attempted to get back into the driver’s seat of the vehicle through the still open driver’s door.
According to police, Wells spontaneously stated, “I only poured out the drink because I didn’t want you to arrest me for DUI in front of my daughter. I only had one drink and I just poured that one to take on the road.”
