Addison man charged with DUI while driving with toddler in vehicle, court denies detention request
The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office announced on Mar. 30 that a judge denied the state's motion to deny pre-trial release for Alexis Lara, an Addison resident accused of driving under the influence with his twenty-two-month-old child in the back seat. Lara, age 24, faces four counts of aggravated DUI and several traffic offenses after being stopped by Elmhurst police on March 29.
This case raises concerns about public safety and the enforcement of laws designed to prevent impaired driving, especially when children are involved. The defendant is currently on probation for aggravated DUI.
According to authorities, officers responded to a report involving a disturbance near Schiller Street and Hampshire Drive. Police observed a dark SUV swerving across lanes before stopping it near Schiller Street and Clinton Avenue. Officers reported that Lara displayed signs of intoxication and had three open bottles of beer in his vehicle. A breath test at the station allegedly showed a blood alcohol content of .208.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said, “Driving is a privilege, not a right. In DuPage County, we have absolutely zero tolerance for anyone who endangers public safety by getting behind the wheel after they have been drinking. What I find unconscionable in this case are the allegations that with a .208 BAC, Mr. Lara, who is currently on probation for aggravated DUI, put his twenty-two-month-old child in the car and then proceeded to drive, endangering the lives of everyone in that vehicle.” Berlin also said this incident illustrates "the need to strengthen the State’s Safe-T-Act" so judges can detain individuals based on their specific circumstances.
Elmhurst Chief of Police Michael McLean said, “Drunk driving is deadly, but it is also 100% preventable... I am grateful our officers located this dangerous driver and removed him from the streets before tragedy occurred.”
Lara's next court appearance is scheduled for April 27 before Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh.
DuPage County has seen various educational statistics recently reported: The average student-to-teacher ratio was thirteen-to-one during the 2022-23 school year among over 142 thousand students enrolled countywide according to state education data. Teacher absenteeism was recorded at thirty-eight point three percent locally compared to thirty-five point six percent statewide as noted by state records. York Community High School had the highest number of white students enrolled among local schools at one thousand eight hundred forty-four according to official figures, while Metea Valley High School led enrollment among multiracial students with one hundred sixty-two per state data. Westmore Elementary School saw ten Pacific Islander students enrolled—the most among area schools—based on state information, while Addison Trail High School had one thousand two hundred fifty-nine Hispanic students enrolled—the highest count locally state records show.
Members of the public are reminded that these charges are not proof of guilt; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.