Ditka son’s DUI arrest quashed

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Michael P. Ditka

Updated: March 12, 2012 8:05AM

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office has until Feb. 24 to decide to go forward with the felony DUI case against a son of former Chicago Bears Coach Mike Ditka.

The attorney for Michael Ditka, 50, of Deerfield said Friday “the state is going to be hard pressed to go further” after a Lake County judge Thursday quashed the arrest.

Ditka was charged with felony DUI after he was arrested for drunk driving on April 20, 2011, in the parking lot of the Deerfield apartment complex where he lives.

His vehicle was parked at the time of his arrest, according to his attorney, Robert Ritacca.

Lake County Circuit Court Associate Judge Brian Hughes granted Ritacca’s motion to quash the arrest and suppress evidence gained from the arrest because there was “no reasonable suspicion he was committing a crime,” Ritacca said.

Any observations the arresting officer made, blood work and other evidence will not be permitted to be presented in court, he said.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Robert Money did not immediately return a call seeking comment Friday.

Ditka faces the felony DUI charge because he has two prior DUI arrests in Lake County, according to court records. If convicted, Ditka faces three to seven years in prison and a fine up to $25,000.

Ditka’s brother Mark Ditka, also of Deerfield, was charged in September with DUI for allegedly having a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit. Mark is not charged with a felony DUI and is due back in court Feb. 22.