An Illinois lawmaker from the Aurora area is facing two charges of driving under the influence after being arrested in the far western suburbs when a police officer found him asleep in his car outside his home, authorities said.
Democratic state Rep. Matt Hanson, 50, was arrested on Oct. 27 outside his apartment in the 2200 block of Jericho Road in Montgomery, according to a police report. The report said the officer noticed Hanson’s car, a 2020 silver Nissan Maxima, was taking up two parking spaces with its taillights on and that Hanson was asleep in the driver’s seat.
The Montgomery police officer knocked on the car window, and when Hanson woke up, he “appeared confused by me being at his window,” the officer wrote in the report.
Hanson asked the officer if he could get out of his vehicle, which the officer said he’d allow, the report stated. But instead, Hanson rolled up his car window and then rolled it back down while continuing to talk to the officer from his car, the report stated.
“Hanson raised and lowered the window multiple times during our conversation, put on his seat belt and appeared to be attempting to put the car in reverse,” the officer wrote in the report. “In talking to Hanson he was hard to understand, appeared to have slurred speech, glassy eyes and a strong odor of alcoholic based beverage coming from the vehicle.”
Hanson had his dog in the car and police allowed Hanson to walk his dog into his apartment, the report stated. Hanson was then arrested.
Hanson was issued two citations for driving under the influence. The report did not indicate his blood alcohol content at the time of his arrest, but one of the charges stated it was above the 0.08% legal limit. Hanson is scheduled to appear for a court hearing in Kane County on Nov. 22.
In an email to the Tribune on Tuesday, Hanson said he was “deeply disappointed” with his conduct and took “full responsibility” for his actions.
“I am committed to ensuring this is the only time I ever exercise such poor judgment,” Hanson wrote in the email. “I plan to undergo an alcohol evaluation, complete any treatment or education that evaluation recommends, and accept all terms the court deems fit.”
“My focus is on the work I need to do for myself and for the people who have entrusted me to represent them,” he said.
A former Kane County Board member, Hanson was sworn in as a state representative in January after defeating four-term Republican Keith Wheeler of Oswego in last year’s general election. Hanson also has worked as a locomotive engineer and is a former Kane County forest preserve commissioner.