Wilmington Man, 65, Is Repeated Drunken Driver, Latest DUI Marks 7th Arrest: Prosecutors Reveal

WILMINGTON, IL — The Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow continues to aggressively pursue felony charges against motorists accused of repeat DUI offenses. One of the latest persons facing such charges is 65-year-old Wilmington resident Eugene "Gene" Hajer, who comes from the 21400 block of West Angle Road.

The Will County Sheriff's Office and Wilmington Police Department teamed up together to arrest Hajer and book him into the Will County Jail on Feb. 28. He was let out of the jail the following day, March 1. Then, in the middle of last week, the State's Attorney's Office filed its formal criminal complaint — plus a petition to deny pretrial release for the Wilmington man, who faces a fourth DUI conviction.

Hajer is now charged with aggravated driving under the influence — as a fourth offense.

According to the criminal complaint, Hajer, while under the influence of alcohol, drove a vehicle, a black Toyota 4 Runner, on Water Street in Wilmington and he has previous DUI convictions from:

• February 15, 2008, out of Du Page County

• March 8, 1990, out of Will County

• December 13, 1987, out of Cook County

According to the prosecution's petition to deny pretrial release, around 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, Wilmington Police Sergeant Eric Runions spotted the black Toyota 4 Runner, which had driven with its passenger side tires on
the gravel shoulder of the roadway at Water Street near Phyllis Drive. The vehicle then abruptly swerved back.

Runions' initial observations noted multiple signs of impairment. Deputy Steve Potete of the Will County Sheriff's police soon arrived and took over the investigation. The driver and sole occupant, Hajer, exhibited balance problems, and admitted to having two drinks, court records show.

Potete also observed a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. The defendant refused field sobriety tests and refused
a breath test at the police station, prosecutors noted.

"Deputy Potete concluded that this defendant was under the influence of alcohol. The defendant has three prior DUI offenses as alleged in the charging document," the prosecution's filing noted.

According to prosecutors, "of some relevance to this court's consideration is that, in addition to the three prior findings of guilt pertaining to the three prior DUIs alleged, he has other DUI arrests. Specifically, these three additional DUI arrests are:

• Aug. 29, 2018, Will County case 2018 CF 1673, bench trial, finding of not guilty.

• Nov. 29, 2004, Will County case 2004 DT 1547, bench trial, defendant's motion for directed verdict granted.

• Sept. 13, 1995, Will County case 1995 DT 56320, matter reduced to reckless driving in exchange for plea of guilty.

In any event, after weighing the evidence, Will County Judge Chrystel Gavlin ruled in the Wilmington man's favor.

She turned down the Will County State's Attorney's Office petition to deny pretrial release under the SAFE-T-Act. The judge did, however, institute a SCRAM order against Hajer, given that this may become his fourth DUI conviction in Illinois and it's his seventh DUI arrest overall in his life.