Harrah's Casino Drunken Driver May Lose 2023 GMC Yukon: Prosecutor

JOLIET, IL — Plainfield resident Justin Cyrnek, who was arrested by Joliet police for his third drunken driving offense in late November, learned Wednesday that he and his family may be losing their 2023 GMC Yukon as a civil forfeiture to the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow.

Two weeks ago, a Will County grand jury indicted the 45-year-old Cyrnek on criminal charges of driving under the influence and aggravated driving under the influence. Cyrnek's history of drunken driving goes back to 1999, court records show.

Cyrnek's first DUI happened in Wisconsin, in Sheboygan County, on Oct. 3, 1999. His second DUI happened here in Will County on Dec. 11, 2008, court records indicate.

While Cyrnek remains free awaiting his eventual trial, the Will County State's Attorneys are asking a judge to declare the Plainfield man's 2023 Yukon a forfeited asset for the police.

According to the forfeiture complaint filed Wednesday at the courthouse:

Joliet Police Sgt. Evans was flagged down by the Harrah's Casino security guards on the night of Nov. 26, regarding an intoxicated driver who was previously told not to drive, yet did so anyway.

Sgt. Evans saw the 2023 GMC Yukon headed north through the casino parking lot and exit along Clinton Street. The Yukon came to a stop "completely blocking the crosswalk," the forfeiture noted. At the blinking red light near Harrah's, the driver remained stationary, and Cyrnek was "holding a cell phone up to his ear."

When the Joliet police sergeant activated the squad car's emergency lights, the GMC Yukon turned south on Joliet Street, then east on Van Buren, "failing to stop at the flashing red light, then turn back into the parking lot without signaling," the forfeiture complaint noted.

Meanwhile, two more Joliet police, officers Beck and Sigala, arrived to help on the call.

The forfeiture indicated that Cyrnek smelled of an alcoholic beverage, and "Justin Cyrnek admitted drinking vodka. Officer Beck observed Justin Cyrnek's eyes to be bloodshot and watery and Justin's speech was thick and he slurred his words."

Joliet police offered Cyrnek the chance to participate in their field sobriety tests, but he refused. He also refused to submit to a preliminary breath test and back at the police station, Cyrnek also refused to provide a breath sample, court documents reflect.

"Officer Beck checked Justin Cyrnek's driving abstract and discovered Justin has two prior DUI convictions," assistant state's attorney Dant Foulk noted.

The forfeiture asked the judge to order Cyrnek's GMC Yukon sold at public auction, destroyed or given to a law enforcement agency in Illinois. Court documents indicate Cyrnek resides in the 13100 block of Plainfield's South Merganser Cove.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Thrown Out Of Harrah's Casino, Plainfield Man Hit With 3rd DUI: JPD