Channahon Police DUI Arrest: Harley-Davidson Faces Forfeiture

CHANNAHON, IL — A 28-year-old Joliet man who lives on Caton Farm Road may lose his 2012 Harley-Davidson XL 1200V 72 as a Will County civil forfeiture following his arrest in August on charges of drunken driving, court records show.

The State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow wants to declare Christopher Shanley's Harley-Davidson's motorcycle a forfeited asset for the police. Channahon officers arrested Shanley on charges of driving under the influence and driving while suspended, in early August.

"Observed bloodshot glassy eyes, odor of an alcoholic beverage on breath, admitted to being drunk and consuming too much alcohol. Slurred, thick-tongued speech," Channahon's police report stated.

According to court documents, Shanley's blood alcohol concentration was 0.228, which is nearly three times the legal limit to be considered drunk in Illinois.

On Aug. 2, Channahon police responded to a report of a hit-and-run crash in the 23000 block of South Bud Court. The 911 caller told police that a motorcycle crashed into his neighbor's yard and "he heard the 2012 Harley-Davidson ... driving outside, then heard what sounded like a collision and the motorcycle shutting off."

The neighbor then heard the motorcycle start up again and travel down Kurt Road back toward McClintock Road, the forfeiture complaint stated. At the scene, Channahon police found a pair of yellow sunglasses and a white cell phone lying near the crash location, court documents state.

Meanwhile, two other Channahon officers located the Harley-Davidson motorcycle at the Speedway gas station and a man was walking southbound in a field. The man was Christopher Shanley, court records state.

"Officer Chapple asked Christopher Shanley how he got to the gas station, to which Christopher pulled a key out of his pocket and pointed toward the ... motorcycle," the forfeiture indicated.

Another officer asked Shanley how much he had to drink and he replied, "too many," the court file reflected. "Christopher Shanley admitted to driving in Bud Court, crashing his motorcycle in a yard and driving to the Speedway gas station," according to court documents.