Gang Member with 29 Prior Convictions Arrested for Fourth DUI: Police

RIVERSIDE, IL — Some people just never learn.

A 32-year-old Bolingbrook man with 29 prior arrests and convictions on his record found himself in the hands of the law yet again after he was pulled over by Riverside police Sunday morning.

Joseph J. Caliendo, of the 300 block of Lyons Drive, was charged with felony aggravated DUI, felony aggravated driving with a revoked license, misdemeanor DUI, possession of open alcohol, speeding and improper lane use, according to a release from the Riverside Police Department.

Caliendo was traveling 57 MPH in a 35 MPH zone. Police also saw the vehicle swerving from curb to curb, striking it, then jumping back into traffic, where other vehicles were forced to get out of his way.

When a police officer pulled Caliendo over, he detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath. The officer also saw that he had white cocaine powder on his nose and upper lip, as well, according to the release.

“When the officer asked the driver to get out of the vehicle, he was so intoxicated he could barely understand him as he was constantly slurring his words,” the release said.

Caliendo failed all field sobriety tests and police found a 40-ounce bottle of beer inside the front passenger seat.

When Calieno was taken to the Riverside Police Department, officers learned that his driver’s license was revoked and that he had numerous prior convictions for driving under the influence and driving while license revoked. Caliendo has three prior convictions for DUI from February 2001, October 2008 and March 2009.

Additionally, Caliendo had been stopped and ticketed nine previous times for driving while his license was revoked.

Caliendo was on parole at the time of his arrest and has 29 prior arrests and convictions including dangerous drugs, assault, invasion of privacy, burglary, traffic offenses, robbery, obstruction of justice and theft.

He also admitted that he is documented street gang member.

“The defendant in this case, Mr. Caliendo, should have never been eligible to even possess a motor vehicle to drive. He is a habitual offender and as such should be in prison,” Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said in a release.

Riverside officers contacted the Illinois Department of Corrections and asked them to revoke his parole status based on the new charges, but IDOC refused to do so, according to police.

“I cannot imagine why our request was denied seeing that he is a habitual felony DUI offender,” Weitzel said in a release. “Under a new law that took effect New Year’s Day, multiple DUI offenders, of which 55 percent live in the six-county Chicago Metro area, who have four convictions can get their driver’s license back if they meet certain requirements. I certainly hope Mr. Caliendo is convicted, goes to prison and is not eligible to get his license back under this new statute which gives leniency to four-time DUI convicted drivers.”