(MCT) — Speeding past a police station was only the beginning of Martin Johnson's problems, authorities say.
He almost hit a squad car pulling out of the station, reeked of booze when he was finally stopped by the police car, had a water bottle filled with liquor in the center console and could barely walk when he got out of his car, according to the police report.
Then the real trouble began, police say.
"I'll give you $5,000 if you'll let me go," Johnson told the officers, according to the police report.
"Where are you going to get $5,000 from?" one of the officers asked.
Johnson handed over a flash drive. "Just look into my thumb drive, you the police, you figure it out," he said, according to the police report.
On the drive police said they found lists of credit card and Social Security numbers and other financial information on people, the report states.
When police asked Johnson where he got the information, he replied: "Talk to my lawyer."
John is being held in Cook County Jail in lieu of $60,000 bail following a hearing in Cook County Criminal Court midday today, according to jail records.
Johnson has three previous DUI convictions and numerous moving violations for which his license was revoked until 2021, according to Secretary of State spokesman Dave Drucker. The DUI convictions were in August of 2001, February of 2003 and January of 2006 and were for driving while under the influence of alcohol, Drucker said.
Additionally, Johnson he has been arrested eight times prior to Tuesday for driving with a revoked license since 2001, Drucker said.
Johnson was charged with bribery, driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license, police said. Authorities said the police department's financial crimes unit was checking the flash drive and other charges could be filed.
Johnson was arrested around 5 p.m. Tuesday. Two officers were leaving the Harrison District police station when they saw his car speeding past and crossing the center line and "almost striking their squad car," according to the police report.
The officers finally got Johnson to stop about a mile and a half away in the 700 block of North Kedzie Avenue after the car's description was broadcast over the police radio, the report said.
The officers said they asked Johnson for his license and "Johnson made an incoherent response."
"He had slurred speech, blood-shot glassy eyes and was having trouble keeping his balance," the police report states. Using one of the officers for support, Johnson was led to a Breathalizer machine but refused to submit to a test, the report says.
"I ain't doing no tests," he told the officers, according to the report. "Last time my lawyer told me not to blow into anything if I was drunk."
When the officers began searching him before taking him into custody, Johnson produced a black flash drive and handed it over, the report states.
Police declined to release Johnson's booking photograph, saying he was still being investigated. He is scheduled to appear in Cook County Criminal Court Branch 2 on June 14.
