Steak-N-Shake Parking Lot Arrest: Joliet Woman's Car Towed By Police

JOLIET, IL — Lauren Valencia, a 31-year-old Joliet resident, is now in the Will County Jail facing felony DUI charges after Joliet police say she failed her sobriety tests in the Steak-N-Shake parking lot on Thursday evening. Valencia also had cocaine and alprazolam in her purse, according to police reports.

In addition to being charged with aggravated DUI, Valencia faces charges of possessing controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia and having an outstanding warrant for her arrest out of Cook County.

Joliet's officers were sent to the Steak-N-Shake on Plainfield Road shortly before 8 p.m. after someone notified them of a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot. Police reports state that the woman in the driver's seat appeared to be under the influence of unknown substances.

"Officers noted that Valencia exhibited signs of possible impairment, and she agreed to undergo sobriety tests," police spokesman Dwayne English notified Patch. "Valencia performed poorly on sobriety tests and was placed into custody without incident."

When Joliet police went through the items inside of Valencia’s purse, officers found cocaine and alprazolam, English noted.

Joliet police said that Valencia also held an active Cook County warrant for failing to appear in court on DUI charges. Valencia’s vehicle was towed from the scene.

Valencia was booked into the Will County Jail at 11:20 p.m. Her bail was set at $5,000.

On Friday evening, she remained in custody, unable to post the necessary 10 percent bond. Valencia lives in the 1400 block of Joliet's Prairie Creek Trail.