Drunk Driver Wouldn't Get Off Phone, Threw Dentures In Jail: Cops

RIVERSIDE, IL - A Chicago man accused of driving drunk in Riverside in the early hours of Saturday morning was on his cell phone when police spotted him, pursued him, pulled him over and even while he was questioned by police in the 3600 block of South Harlem Avenue. Later that night, authorities in Riverside say Demarco McCranie "pulled out his dentures, threw them on the floor and kicked them across the booking room" of the jail after his arrest.

Riverside police say McCranie was driving a gray 2007 Mercury at 12:40 a.m. on May 18 and weaving in and out of traffic on Harlem Avenue near Addison Road in Riverside. The driver refused to pull over and was spotted on his cell phone "continuing to drive at a high speed and talk on his phone," according to police.

The Riverside officer in pursuit then pulled along next to McCranie, beeped his horn and had his siren on, but McCranie still did not stop according to police. The public address system was then activated and the car finally pulled over.

"During this entire time, the driver refused to get off his cell phone and was talking on it while trying to engage in conversation with the police officer," Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said. "When the officer told him to get off the phone, he refused and the phone even rang in to receive another call while still talking on the phone."

McCranie did eventually perform a few field sobriety tests and "failed all of them," Weitzel said, adding that McCranie blew a .18 on a portable breath test. He now faces charges of drunk driving, speeding, illegal lane usage, unlawful use of cell phone device while driving and other traffic-related offenses.

After McCranie was taken to jail for the DUI, police say he "became very combative and verbally abusive."

"He started yelling and resisting arrest and one time during the booking process he pulled out his dentures, threw them on the floor and kicked them across the booking room," Weitzel said.

Weitzel said the arrest is part of a DUI enforcement campaign that will run through Memorial Day weekend.