Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- The second of those charged with DUI from the last week of January 2023, and the last of those charged in that month, was a Chicago man. He caught the attention of a Park Forest officer at 3:24 AM on January 29.
Last DUI Charge of January 2023
According to police, approximately one inch of snow and sleet fell about two hours before the events that follow. Driving conditions were slippery on most roads at 3:24 AM, the report says.
An officer was driving eastbound on Fir Street when he saw a red SUV, later identified as a 2017 Hyundai Tucson, also driving eastbound on Fir Street towards Western Avenue.
Police allege the Hyundai “rapidly increased its speed and failed to stop” at the stop sign at Western Avenue and Fir Street, according to police. The Hyundai turned right onto Western Avenue, according to the report. It traveled southbound on Western Avenue in the left lane, rapidly increasing its speed, according to police.
The officer caught up to the Hyundai on Western Avenue and noted that it was traveling with both of its driver-side tires allegedly touching the double yellow lines on the left, according to the report. As it continued, the Hyundai eventually returned to the center of the lane but then moved again to the left lane where its tires touched the lines again, according to police.
The officer followed the Hyundai as it passed Chestnut Street. The SUV drove at an alleged 54 mph where the posted speed limit was 35 mph, according to police. The Hyundai drove “dangerously fast for the conditions on Western,” according to the report.
The Hyundai then turned right onto the left lane of Sauk Trail, police said. Its side tires again touched the yellow line on the left of the lane, according to police. The SUV then allegedly increased its speed to 51 miles per hour, according to police. The posted speed limit here was 35 mph, according to police.
Curbing the Vehicle
The officer activated the emergency lights of his squad and curbed the Hyundai on Sauk Trail at Orchard Drive. The SUV came to a stop, according to police.
The officer approached the driver’s door and spoke with the driver and only occupant of the SUV, DeMonta D. Sanner, 28, of Chicago.
Mr. Sanner asked the officer if he stopped him for speeding, according to police. The officer replied that Mr. Sanner was driving “kind of reckless,” according to the report. Mr. Sanner allegedly responded, “It’s slippery as hell out here, bro. I know you know it’s slippery as hell out here,” according to the report.
The officer then advised Mr. Sanner of the reasons for the stop, according to the police. Mr. Sanner allegedly responded that he slid through the stop sign, failing to stop, according to police. The officer advised Mr. Sanner that this was the reason why he should slow down, police said. Mr. Sanner allegedly did not give an explanation for speeding, according to police. In the report, the officer alleges that Mr. Sanner had glossy and red eyes. The officer could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from Mr. Sanner’s breath, according to police.
The officer asked Mr. Sanner where he was coming from. Mr. Sanner replied, “Leaving my girl across to go home,” according to police. The officer asked Mr. Sanner how much he had to drink that night. Mr. Sanner allegedly answered that he didn’t have that much, according to police. He said he had just left the bar not too long ago, according to police. Mr. Sanner allegedly told the officer that he had a cup of tequila “a little while ago,” according to police. The officer asked Mr. Sanner if he came from Bixby’s. The officer knew that was a local establishment, the report says. Mr. Sanner allegedly said that he did. He said he had just left the bar before dropping his girlfriend off on Fir Street, according to police.
Field Sobriety Tests
The officer returned to his squad. He backed it up to create a space for Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, according to police. Mr. Sanner allegedly consented and told the officer that he could give him an “alcohol test,” according to the report.
After the tests, the officer arrested Mr. Sanner on suspicion of DUI alcohol, according to the report. The officer found a plastic cup in the SUV containing a liquid with an odor of alcohol, according to police.
Mr. Sanner did perform a breathalyzer test which indicated a BAC of 0.065, according to police. While in the booking room, Mr. Sanner allegedly made a spontaneous statement about the cup the officer found. He allegedly said that the cup containing tequila from inside the Hyundai belonged to his girlfriend, not him, police said. The officer did not ask him about the cup, according to the police. Mr. Sanner told the officer that he was about to pour the cup out, according to the police.
Last DUI Charge of January 2023
Police arrested DeMonta D. Sanner, 28, 9241 Pazton Ave., Chicago, on January 29 and charged him with disobeying a stop sign, improper Lane usage, speeding above the posted limit, DUI of alcohol, and illegal transportation of alcohol.
Police assigned Mr. Sanner a court date of March 31, 2023, at the Markham Courthouse, according to the report.
About Police Reports
Please note that we repeatedly say “according to police” in these reports and often use “allegedly.” We are not asserting in any way that those police arrested and charged committed any offenses. We report on what is in the reports that the police furnish to us. As those accused are innocent until proven guilty, the burden is on prosecutors and police to prove all alleged crimes.
eNews Park Forest has continuously published the addresses of those arrested and will continue to do so. 5 ILCS 140/2.15 states that the governmental body (for these reports, the Police Department), shall release information on those charged, including their name, age, and address. This information is necessary to ensure the proper identity of those arrested.
Presumption of Innocence
An arrest does not mean that a person is guilty. The law presumes all those whom police arrest are innocent until proven guilty. It is the policy of eNews Park Forest not to remove items from the public record from publication. Suppose you find your name in the police reports. Our policy is that we will only add information relevant to the final disposition of the case at hand, e.g., “Mr. Smith was subsequently acquitted,” “Mr. Smith entered a guilty plea,” or “All charges against Mr. Smith were subsequently dropped.” We will do so upon receiving and verifying proof of such disposition.
We do not strike, “unpublish,” or delete news.
Police captured all the incidents in this report on body-worn and dash-mounted cameras by officers at the respective scenes, according to police. All Park Forest police officers wear body-worn cameras. Officials typically abbreviate these devices as BWC in the reports.
We encourage persons wishing to leave anonymous information on any criminal matters, including narcotics or gang activity, to call the Park Forest Police Department Investigations Division at (708) 748-1309.
Erratum: This report initially said January 2022 instead of January 2023. We regret the error.
