Another Ditka faces DUI charges

• Reprints

Mark Ditka

Updated: October 28, 2011 10:54AM

Another son of former Chicago Bears’ coach Mike Ditka has been arrested on a driving under the influence charge in Deerfield.

Mark E. Ditka, 48, of 679 Central Ave., Deerfield, was arrested at 3:27 a.m. Sept. 24 at Central Avenue and Waukegan Road. He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to display registration and speeding.

The arresting officer said he was in his squad near Waukegan and Lake Cook roads when he observed a black Mercedes turn onto northbound Waukegan from Lake Cook and that the vehicle did not have a front license plate. He said he attempted to initiate a traffic stop but the vehicle did not stop, continuing northbound and turning left onto Central.

A police commander arrived in the area and noted that he had clocked the vehicle traveling 50 mph in a 40-mph zone.

Ditka told the arresting officer he was returning from Downtown. The officer said Ditka’s responses to his questions were slow, his words were slurred and he had the odor of alcoholic beverages coming from his breath. Ditka’s responses to the officer’s questions were redacted by Deerfield police in their response to a Freedom of Information Act request.

One response that was left in the police report was when the officer asked what he was smelling on Ditka’s breath. The Deerfield residents said it was his citrus-flavored chew.

The officer said that when Ditka exited the vehicle for field sobriety tests he appeared off balance and had to place his hand on the vehicle for support as he walked to the rear of the car. The officer added that Ditka’s eyes were red and bloodshot.

After losing his balance in field-sobriety tests, Ditka registered a .16 blood-alcohol concentration on a preliminary breath test, according to police.

Once arrested for DUI, Ditka had his car inventoried. In a travel bag in the trunk, police said, they found a single yellow pill which has been sent to the crime lab for testing.

When asked to take a another breath sample after being arrested, Ditka refused, police said, and he also refused to answer any more questions.

Ditka was released after signing an I-bond and is scheduled to appear Oct. 19 in Lake County Circuit Court. Ditka’s Mercedes-Benz was towed from the scene.

His brother, Michael Ditka, 49, was arrested April 20 and charged with DUI after being stopped in the parking lot of his Deerfield apartment complex. In July, those charged were upgraded to felony DUI because Michael Ditka has been arrested on DUI charges in Lake County twice previously.

Michael Ditka’s case is still pending in Lake County Circuit Court.