Intoxicated Channahon Man Passes Out In GMC Safari: Forfeiture

CHANNAHON, IL — A 40-year-old Channahon man charged with his third offense of drunken driving now faces the prospect of having to part ways with his 2005 GMC Safari.

On Friday, Will County prosecutors notified Richard Gier that his van faces a civil forfeiture hearing on June 9.

Gier spent six days in the Will County Jail in early April after being arrested by the Channahon Police Department at the Pilot gas station along Route 6 near the Interstate 55 exit. Gier has been charged with three counts of aggravated driving under the influence and one count of unlawful possession of controlled substances.

The criminal complaint states that Gier unlawfully possessed Fentanyl at the time of his April 4 arrest.

According to Gier's forfeiture case, a Channahon police officer was sent to the Pilot gas station and the officer saw the 2005 GMC Safari "running at the pump with the driver door ajar and in drive. The solo male was sleeping between the seats not responding to" the officer's commands.

Channahon police called for an ambulance to evaluate the man. Meanwhile, police determined that Gier was the unconscious man, and that he had a suspended driver's license.

According to his criminal complaint, Gier was under "the influence of alcohol, other drugs or drugs ... to a degree that rendered the defendant incapable of safely driving."

The criminal charges also note that Gier, who lives in the 22700 block of West Jonathan Drive, was previously convicted of driving under the influence on June 22, 2002, in Will County and on June 8, 2008 in Grundy County, and this marks his third violation.