Elmhurst Police Report DUI Arrests During Stepped-up Enforcement Period

Additional Elmhurst police officers have been on the streets looking for impaired drivers this month, thanks to a year-long grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation. The goal of the grant is to reduce fatal and serious-injury crashes with additional enforcement of DUI and seat belt laws.

The current grant period began on Aug. 16 and will continue through the Labor Day holiday this Monday. The additional officers are on patrol during the overnight hours, which are the most dangerous times on Illinois roadways, according to IDOT. A roadside check point was set up between 11:30 p.m. and 4 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 24 and 25, at Lake and Church streets in Elmhurst. For more information, contact Elmhurst Sgt. Jim Gandy at (630) 530-3050.

The following arrests were reported during this enforcement period, Aug. 24 and 25:

DUI Arrests

Charles Cowans, 31, 1442 Apache Drive, Hanover Park, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after police pulled over his black Cadillac CTS for speeding and improper lane use at Interstate 290 and York at 1:50 a.m. Aug. 24. He was released on bond.

Nancy Blagg, 57, 425 Verret, Elmhurst, was arrested and charged with DUI and driving without a valid license after police pulled over her brown Mercury Sable for improper lane use and failure to signal at Route 83 and St. Charles Road at 1:52 a.m. Aug. 24. She was released on bond.

Lindsay Krafft, 21, 5550 Abbey Apt. 3G, Lisle, was arrested and charged with DUI after police stopped her red Chevrolet Cobalt as part of a roadside safety check at Lake and Church at 1:44 a.m. Aug. 25. She was released on bond.

Vidal Funez, 21, 1041 Ferrari Drive Apt. 1A, Bensenville, was arrested and charged with DUI and driving without a license after the vehicle he was driving was involved in an accident with a 31-year-old Bensenville man at Lake and Grand at 2:35 a.m. Aug. 25. He was released on bond.

Pawel Ciochon, 22, 421 N. Addison, Addison, was arrested and charged with DUI after his silver Acura TL was stopped at a roadside safety checkpoint at Lake and Church at 4 a.m. Aug. 25. He also was charged with resisting arrest and illegal transportation of alcohol. He was released on bond.

DUI-Drugs

Matthew Pokorny, 21, 545 Arlene, Wood Dale, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of drugs after police pulled over his silver Toyota Solara as part of a roadside safety check at Lake and Church at 12:12 a.m. Aug. 25. Police said he was in possession of drug paraphernalia and admitted to smoking cannabis. He was released on bond.

Possession of Cannabis

Jose Bernal, 22, 4954 N. Mason Ave., Chicago, was arrested and charged with possession of cannabis, illegal transportation of open alcohol and driving with a suspended license after police stopped his green Honda Element as part of a roadside safety check at Lake and Church at 1:53 a.m. Aug. 25. He was released on bond.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity using information provided by official agencies. Persons charged with a crime or issued a citation for violation of a local ordinance are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you or a family member are charged with a crime or cited for a violation and the charge or citation is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to contact karenc@patch.com and we will do follow-up reporting on the case.