Wilmington Man's Toyota 4Runner Must Become Forfeited Asset For Police: Glasgow

WILMINGTON, IL — A 65-year-old Wilmington motorist who recently had his seventh drunken driving arrest — he's won three of his past court cases and lost the other three — now faces the prospect of having his 2020 black Toyota 4Runner become a forfeited police asset.

As a result of last week's filing from the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow, a civil forfeiture complaint has been lodged against Wilmington aggravated DUI defendant Eugene Hajer since this marks his "third or subsequent DUI."

According to the complaint, Will County Sheriff's Deputy Potete was summoned to Wilmington's South Water Street and Phyllis Drive on Feb. 28 where the Toyota 4Runner "had unsafely crossed a lane boundary line and drove off the roadway. Sergeant Runions of the Wilmington Police Department initiated a traffic stop ...Deputy Potete observed Eugene Hajek had slow slurred speech and could not keep balance. Deputy Potete observed an overwhelming strong odor of an alcoholic beverage ... from Eugene Hajer's breath."

The forfeiture complaint noted that "Eugene Hajer stated he had two Miller Lights at the Rustic" Inn in Wilmington.

Back at the Wilmington Police Station, Hajer "respectfully refused" to undergo any standard field sobriety tests and revealed, "he was impaired," the court documents show.

When the sheriff's deputy asked Hajer to undergo a preliminary breath test, Hajer refused.

Hajer was arrested and brought back to the Will County Jail.

"This is Eugene Hajer's third or subsequent DUI," the complaint noted.

The fate of Hajer's 2020 Toyota 4Runner could be determined on May 6 at the Will County Courthouse.

Back on March 18, Joliet Patch published the following crime story about Hajer: "Wilmington Man, 65, Is Repeated Drunken Driver, Latest DUI Marks 7th Arrest: Prosecutors Reveal."

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.