COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — "Sleepy" and smelling of alcohol, a South Korean man plowed into tables at the Chicago Korean Festival over the weekend, prosecutors said. Fortunately, it was past 3 a.m. Sunday and the festival-goers had already cleared out for the night.
James Choi, 58, of the 6000 block of North Wolcott Avenue, was allegedly seen by two Northeastern Illinois University police officers crash his 2004 red Cadillac DeVille through a festival barricade in the 3600 block of West Bryn Mawr Avenue and then slam into a stack of tables.
When Chicago Police arrived, Choi appeared "sleepy" and was slurring his words, according to court records.
He refused a breathalyzer, but according to records he mentioned "Makkoli", a Korean rice wine and told police he had done wrong.
He was charged with driving without insurance and valid registration and drunk driving for a third time.
Cook County Judge Laura Sullivan set Choi's bond at $30,000.
No one was injured in the crash.