Traffic Stops Lead to Arrests for Drugs and Alcohol

Possession of a Controlled Substance

Joel Valencia, 41, 1545 N. Taft, Berkeley, was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine after a traffic stop at North and Myrtle at 11:49 p.m. May 23. Another passenger, Bryant Arrison, 21, 1877 Marquette, Chula Vista, Calif., was allegedly found to be in possession of cannabis. Valencia was taken to DuPage County Jail and Arrison was released on bond. The driver, Pedro Castaneda, 25, 815 Washington Apt. 7, Mendota, was charged with no seat belt.

Possession of Cannabis

Carl Old, 55, 13826 Lynnwood, Sugarland, Texas, and Raul Garcia, 31, 642 Ascot, Orlando, Fla., were arrested and charged with possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia after police were called to the Courtyard Hotel, 370 N. Route 83, at 8:56 p.m. May 18. Old reportedly gave consent for the officers to search his room, and police said they found cannabis and drug paraphernalia. Old and Garcia were released on bond.

Tara Lynn Ballmer, 39, 2373 Lilac Drive, Hillside, and Brandon Patrick Allen, 27, 213 Reading Ave., Jonesville, Mich., were arrested and charged with possession of cannabis after police on patrol reportedly saw them smoking cannabis at 370 N. Route 83 at 11:49 p.m. May 19. They were released on I-bond.

Dominik D. Bogacz, 22, 7437 W. Fullerton, Elmwood Park, was arrested and charged with possession of cannabis after police pulled over his white Honda Accord for speeding at Route 83 and Lake Street 9:56 p.m. May 20. Two passengers, a 21-year-old Chicago man and another also were charged with possession of cannabis. They were released on I-bond.

DUI Arrests

Violeta Acevedo, 24, 2445 W. 51st St., Chicago, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after police pulled her over for speeding, disobeying a traffic signal and improper lane use at North and Emroy at 2:33 a.m. May 18. She was released on I-bond.

Mayank Verma, 36, 160 Larchmont Lane, Bloomingdale, was arrested and charged with DUI, driving without a license and driving without insurance after police pulled over his silver Honda Accord for improper lane use at Interstate 290 and Lake Street at 11:24 p.m. May 19. He was released on I-bond.

Hector Rodriguez, 46, 524 W. Division Apt. 2, Villa Park, was arrested and charged with DUI after police pulled over his red Chevrolet Cavalier for disobeying a red light at St. Charles and Poplar at 12:31 a.m. May 21. He also was found to be driving with a suspended license. He was released on I-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.