Sugar Grove man's car could be seized as asset forfeiture

SUGAR GROVE – A Sugar Grove man who was charged with felony driving on a suspended license for the second time stands to lose his vehicle in an asset seizure, according to police reports obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

Ryan O. Hennessey, 44, of the 500 block of Mallard Lane, Sugar Grove, was charged Sept. 19. His license was suspended because of a drunken driving charge, reports stated.

A police officer noticed how nervous Hennessey was while pumping gas into a black Chevrolet Tahoe at the Grove Stop, 11 Waubonsee Drive, reports stated.

The officer noticed that Hennessey was staring at his police car and “began pacing about nervously upon my approach,” the report stated.

As Hennessy’s registration showed that his license was suspended, the officer made a traffic stop in the parking lot of 700 Heartland Drive after Hennessey drove away from the gas station, reports stated.

Hennessey told the officer that he was driving with a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device – a device typically installed on the vehicles of DUI offenders.

Hennessey’s driving history did not show such a device on his car, nor a monitored driving permit, which is usual with the issuance of this device, the report stated.

Hennessey has a statutory summary suspension on his license that went went into effect on Oct. 25, 2016 until Jan. 1, 2020, for a DUI-based offense, the report stated.

Hennessey also had a prior conviction for driving with a suspended license for a DUI-based offense on Dec. 11, 2017 in Cook County, the report stated.

Hennessey had an additional conviction on the same date for failure to stop or exchange information or report an accident, the report stated.

The officer told Hennessey the police would seek asset forfeiture of the 2007 Tahoe, as permitted under state law, and delivered the Tahoe to the custody of the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, the report stated.

Hennessey was released on a $7,500 personal recognizance bond and ordered not to drive without a valid license, court records show.

Hennessey is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 5 with an attorney, according to court records.