Suburban Man Charged with DUI After Driving on Sidewalk

Robert Kaminski, 61, of Palatine, is facing seven separate charges

A suburban man is facing multiple charges after authorities said he drove onto the sidewalk while under the influence of alcohol, and subsequently went on a profanity-laced tirade against an officer early Sunday. 

At 12:22 a.m., a Riverside police officer saw a vehicle pass her squad car at a high rate of speed on westbound Ogden Ave at Miller Rd. The car was weaving in the lanes at 44 mph in a 25 mph zone, authorities said. When the officer attempted to stop the car, she said it drove onto the sidewalk next to a restaurant in the 8000 block of W Ogden Ave. 

The officer smelled a strong odor of alcohol from the man, later identified as 61-year-old Robert Kaminski of Palatine. He failed all sobriety tests, police said, and told the officer he was the "most sober, as he was the designated driver." A highly-intoxicated 45-year-old woman was also in the front seat, according to authorities. 

Kaminski was placed under arrest, at which point he went into a "drunken tirade swearing at the officer," according to police. The officer said he called her an idiot and attempted to kick out the windows of the squad car. 

At the station, he refused a breathalyzer test, police said, and told the arresting officer "this is going to be a memorable night for you" before vomiting several times into a garbage can. 

Kaminski is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, improper lane usage, failure to signal when required, improper use of turn signal, and driving on a sidewalk, according to a release. 

Officers said he was so intoxicated that throughout the booking process, "he yelled and thrashed" and refused to stop moving when his photo was taken. 

Authorities said the female passenger in his car was taken to an area hospital to be treated for alcohol poisoning and an injured ankle. 

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