More Trouble For Angel Contreras: His Truck Faces Forfeiture

JOLIET, IL — It's been more than one month since one of Joliet's most notable politicians, Joliet Township Supervisor Angel Contreras, got arrested by Joliet police on felony aggravated driving under the influence charges. Now, the 36-year-old faces the prospect of having to part ways with his 2007 Honda Ridgeline.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow filed a civil forfeiture complaint against Contreras this week at the Will County Courthouse. A court hearing has been set for Sept. 14.

According to the complaint, on June 19, a Joliet police officer on overnight patrol saw the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck heading northbound on Raynor Avenue "without any of its lights illuminated. Officer (Ken) Macejak observed the Honda drive over the marked lane divider."

Eventually, Contreras turned eastbound on Western Avenue "and traveled in both the eastbound and westbound lanes of traffic with the center of the vehicle traveling over the marked double yellow lane lines for several feet," the forfeiture noted.

When the Joliet officer turned on his squad car's sirens and flashing lights, Contreras "struck and drove up on the curb with the vehicle's front passenger tire."

Contreras was asked for his driver's license, but he does not have one.

"Angel Contreras provided an Illinois State Identification card and stated that his driver's was revoked," court records show.

According to Joliet police, Contreras' eyes were bloodshot and glassy, his movements slow and deliberate. The Joliet Township Supervisor was lethargic, and his speech was slurred, the forfeiture pointed out.

The Joliet officer ran Contreras' name through his registration database and learned that Contreras had a revoked driver's license in Illinois. Contreras also has prior DUI convictions from Indiana and Iowa.

His latest arrest by Joliet police marks the third time Contreras has been arrested on drunken driving charges.

"Contreras stated he had four drinks at the end of the night. Officer Macejak offered Contreras to perform ... sobriety testing, which Angel Contreras refused," the forfeiture noted.

Contreras was handcuffed and brought to the Joliet police station, where "Angel Contreras refused to provide a breath sample after the 20-minute observation period. Angel Contreras was then transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility," court records state.

Will County prosecutors now want a judge to declare the 2007 Honda Ridgeline a forfeited police asset, that way, it can be sold at public auction, destroyed or given to another police agency in Illinois.