Drunk Driver Nearly Hits Police Officer: Cops

RIVERSIDE, IL — A Stickney man driving drunk was arrested after nearly hitting a police officer who was on an unrelated traffic stop. Riverside Police said at 10 p.m. Dec. 7, the officer had a stopped a vehicle for speeding in the 2800 block of Harlem when another vehicle veered toward the officer and stopped vehicle.

According to police, the motorist then continued to travel on Harlem Avenue. The reported drunk driver then almost hit a whole row of parked cars as another officer was trying to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was eventually stopped closer to the 2200 block of South Harlem and Cermak Road.

Police said when the officer made contact with the driver, identified as Daniel Vazquez, 21, he was unable to communicate with him in a proper manner. Vazquez had slurred speech and difficulty understanding what the officer was saying. He told the officer he was going home but was actually traveling in the opposite direction of where he lived. He told the officer that he had been at Binny's Beverage Depot and had purchased beer. According to police, the officer also observed a glass "one hitter" pipe commonly used to smoke cannabis inside the front center console.

Police said the roadside testing was administered and Vazquez failed all testing.

According to police, at this point, Vazquez told the officer, "I should not be arrested because I have only had three to four IPA beers."

Vazquez was arrested for DUI and taken to the police station. Police said he blew into the breathalyzer and blew a .12.

According to police, Vazquez said that in addition to the IPA beers he had drunk, he had “Voodoo Ranger IPA beers and smoked cannabis just before getting into the vehicle."

Vazquez was charged with two counts of DUI (one for alcohol and one for drugged driving), illegal lane usage and several other traffic violations. After Vazquez bonded out, he made statements to police that he was going to hurt himself.

Police said he was taken into protective custody and transported to McNeal Hospital in Berwyn for evaluation.

Photo provided by Riverside Police Department.