Crime & Safety

Oak Lawn DUI Arrests, Jan. 25-29

Out-of-towners living it up in Oak Lawn and malt liquor for lunch are just a few of the traffic mishaps allegedly involving alcohol and other controlled substances.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29

  • Anthony J. Variola, 36, of Evergreen Park, was charged driving under the influence of alcohol and DUI over .08. Police said that Variola attracted officers’ attention by driving 50mph in a 30mph zone, and not coming to a complete stop when making a right turn on red on to 95th Street from Austin Avenue, until his car came to a stop at Menard Avenue and 95th Street. Police said Variola’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and emanated a strong odor of alcohol. Variola allegedly told police that he had “3 to 4 beers” and refused a preliminary Breathalyzer test. He was arrested and taken to the Oak Lawn police station, where police said he blew a .109. Variloa was also citied for multiple traffic violations, including driving with no lights, speeding, disobeying a stoplight, no proof of insurance and using a vehicle for illegal activities.

Find out how many drinks will get you a DUI.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 27

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  • Ronald W. Briski, 65, of Evergreen Park was charged with DUI and DUI over .08 when police spotted his Jetta swerving over the marker several times between Keeler Avenue and Pulaski Road at 12:12 a.m., reports said. Officers pulled Briski over at 95th Street and Avers Avenue. Briski said he was driving home from an Oak Lawn bar and restaurant after having “two or three beers.” Police said Briski stumbled several times and lost balance while performing field sobriety tests. Briski blew a .202 at the Oak Lawn police station. He has a court appearance at the Bridgeview Courthouse on Feb. 28.
  • Thomas Degrado, 46, of Chicago, was charged with a DUI and other traffic violations when police said he increased his speed to 54mph in a 30mph zone around 111th Street and Pulaski Road. Degrado told police he was driving home from a bar after having “a couple of cocktails,” according to the report. He was taken into custody for DUI. Police said he refused to blow and argued with detention officers. He was charged with DUI and cited for failure to signal, speeding, improper lane usage, no proof of insurance and using a vehicle for illegal activities. Degrado has a date with a judge at the Bridgeview Courthouse on Feb. 28.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25

  • Brenda M. Santora-Smith, 61, of Midlothian, got delayed on her way home from work after a village employee called police to report a “female reckless driver” driving a 1995 Olds Cutlass that was “all over the road” around 1:10 p.m. Santora-Smith had been reported resting in an intersection at 52nd Avenue and 102nd Street, police said. The village employee followed Santora-Smith’s car as she drove northbound on 52nd Avenue where she continued to swerve into the oncoming southbound laneuntil she stopped on 9700 block of 52nd Street, several feet away from the curb, reports said. The village employee knocked on the woman’s side window several times who noted that Santora-Smith had difficulty responding. When police arrived, she provided a traffic citation from Posen for ID. Santora-Smith allegedly told police that she had a wine cooler for lunch with her prescription medication. Police searched Santora-Smith’s car who said she had an empty bottle of St. Ides malt liquor in her lap, and a bottle of doctor-prescribed Enalapril in her purse. A warning on the bottle said it may cause drowsiness and blurred vision, and to not take when operating a car, the report said. Santora-Smith blew a .000 at the police station. She was charged with DUI-drugs, stopping in an intersection, driving in the wrong lane, no proof of insurance and using a vehicle with illegal activities. She has a court appearance in Bridgeview on Feb. 28.

Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.

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