Darien Police Blotter: Traffic Violations, Domestic Violence

DARIEN, IL — The Darien Police Department made arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a suspended license, domestic violence along with other offenses in recent days. Here is information from the reports:

March 22

At 10:30 p.m.,an officer in the observed a vehicle make a three-point turn in the middle of North Frontage Road and drifted over lane markings. The vehicle was stopped and the driver, Robert Engelhardt, 35, of the 1500 block of Lakeview Drive, Darien was arrested on two counts of driving under the influence and improper lane usage. Engelhardt was given a court date of April 20 at DuPage County Judicial Center.

March 24

At approximately 7:43 a.m., officers were dispatched to Woodspring Suites on North Frontage Road for a domestic disturbance. During the investigation officers discovered Willie Lee had an active outstanding warrant for domestic battery out of Will County. Lee was transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility.

March 25

At 1:40a.mm, an officer observed a vehicle in the 7100 block of Cass Avenue speeding. Radar confirmed the vehicle traveling 55mph in a 40mph zone. The vehicle was stopped and the driver, Christopher Ray, 50, of the 4900 block of W. West End Ave., Chicago, was cited for driving while license suspended. Ray was given a court date of 06/30/21 at the DuPage County Court House.

March 26

At approximately 3:24 p.m., an officer observed a vehicle fail to stop at a red light. The vehicle was stopped and the driver, Kristal Sturdivant, 40, of the 1800 block Pebblestone Drive, Romeoville, was cited for driving while license suspended. Sturdivant was given a court date of June 17 in Wheaton.

At 4:34 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 1700 block of Plainfield Road, for a theft. The victim stated that he had multiple political signs stolen from different addresses throughout the City of Darien. The victim told police he does not know who has been taking the signs. The approximate loss is $63.04. There is no other information at this time.

At 11:09 p.m., an officer observed a vehicle in the 2500 block of 75th Street swerving and nearly strike the raised median. The vehicle was stopped and the driver, Tome Kochankovski, 63, of the 200 block of Huntington Court, LaGrange Park, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, improper lane usage, driving without a registration light and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Kochankovski was assigned a court date of April 27 in Wheaton.

March 27

At 12:50 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 1000 block of Willow Lane for a theft of money. The victim advised police that she checked her online bank account and noticed money missing from her account and several fraudulent charges. The estimated total is $743.29.

March 29

At 12:04 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle in the 8600 block of South Lemont Road speeding. Radar confirmed the vehicle was traveling at 57 mph in a 40 mph zone. The vehicle was stopped and the driver, John Starzyk, 31, of the 5000 block of S. Lotus Ave., Chicago, was cited for unlawful possession of cannabis by a driver and speeding. John was issued a court date of May 13 in Wheaton.

At 3:00 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 8400 block of Chicory Court for a report of a subject who fell down the stairs. Mary Maheras, 28, was arrested on two counts of domestic battery. Maheras was transported to the DuPage County Jail.

Police report information is provided by local police departments. 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.