'He Had 2 Beers Earlier:' Joliet Mercedes Driver Had .18 BAC, Vehicle Forfeiture Complaint Says

JOLIET, IL ? If you lend your vehicle to someone in Joliet who gets a DUI, you may be subject to a vehicle forfeiture, depending on the circumstances. The Will County State's Attorney's Office just filed a civil forfeiture seeking to confiscate a white 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML 550 from Joliet resident Angel Rojas, even though Rojas wasn't anywhere near his car at the time of the Joliet police traffic stop.

The motorist, 39-year-old Adan Tapia-Patino, who comes from the 600 block of East Washington Street, was arrested by Joliet police on July 26 on charges of aggravated DUI and having no valid driver's license.

According to court files, Officer Hernandez of JPD was called to Jackson Street and North Scott Street, where Officers McCaskill and Williams had stopped the 2009 Mercedes for improper registration. The displayed registration belonged to a 2005 brown Hummer.

During the middle of the night traffic stop in the city's downtown, the Joliet officers identified Tapia-Patino by his passport, court files show. Officer McCaskill noted that the Spanish-speaking driver had one open Modelo alcoholic beverage and one open container of Icehouse beer inside the center console cupholder, the court files show.

Tapia-Patino told Officer Hernandez "he had got the ... vehicle a few hours ago from a friend at an unknown address that owed him money, and the plate belongs to his vehicle that he left at the friend's house," according to the forfeiture filing.

Joliet police later found out that Angel Rojas, who lives on Whitney Avenue in Joliet, is the registered owner of the Mercedes-Benz.

As for Tapia-Patino, he "advised he had two beers earlier and agreed to Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. Officer Hernandez observed multiple clues. Adan Tapia-Patino agreed to a preliminary breath test that resulted in a BAC of 0.181," the court records reflect.

At Joliet's police station, after a 20-minute observation period, Tapia-Patino's breath sample registered at 0.163, court files show. He was subsequently released on a notice to appear at the Will County Courthouse.

The forfeiture case involving the Mercedes-Benz is set for Oct. 8 at the courthouse.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Mercedes-Benz Driver Kept Cocaine In His Pocket: Joliet Police