Windows Fogged Up, BMW Owner May Part Ways With Car After Will County Forest Preserve Police Wake Him Up

CHANNAHON, IL — A motorist from Chicago may part ways with his 2008 BMW 328xi in connection with his decision to get some sleep near the Will County Forest Preserve District's Rock Run Rookery in Channahon on Oct. 3, according to the latest vehicle forfeiture filing from the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow.

Wednesday's forfeiture filing at the courthouse identifies the BMW owner as Elon Bell of South Throop Street in Chicago.

According to the forfeiture complaint, Officer Nomikos of the Forest Preserve Police was opening up the Rock Run Rookery for the day, on Oct. 3, when he saw the BMW parked on Youngs Road facing north. The officer saw something underneath a blanket but could not tell what it was because the car's windows were all fogged up.

The officer used one of his air horns several times and eventually the driver's side rear passenger door opened up. The Chicago man demanded to know why Officer Nomikos had woken him up, the court files show.

Eventually, a Will County Sheriff's deputy with a K9 arrived at the scene and the deputy learned the motorist's identity was Elon Bell. The deputy determined that Bell had a revoked driver's license for a prior DUI and faced an arrest warrant from a police agency not in extradition limits, the court records noted.

Bell was then placed under arrest and his BMW was towed off. At the forest preserve police station, Bell got a citation for driving while license revoked for DUI, the forfeiture indicated.

Bell's forfeiture case has been given a court hearing in Will County for Dec. 2.