Former County Commissioner Peraica tossed behind bars for being late for court
BY LAUREN FITZPATRICK Sun-Times Media lfitzpatrick@suntimes.com October 4, 2011 1:04PM
Former Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica.
Updated: November 15, 2011 12:55PM
Former Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica was arrested and sent to the lockup in the Bridgeview courthouse Tuesday morning after showing up late for a hearing in his own misdemeanor case.
Judge Kerry M. Kennedy issued an arrest warrant for Peraica, who should have been in court at 9 a.m. for a scheduled hearing on his criminal damage to property charge.
And when the former Republican county board member walked into court more than 1-1/2 hours late, he was led to the lockup to await his attorney instead of taking his usual seat at the defense lawyers’ table.
“You of all people should know — 9 o’clock is 9 o’clock,” Kennedy yelled from the bench shortly before noon once Peraica’s attorney showed up. “You’re a defendant in this case. I can’t give you special treatment, I won’t give you special treatment.”
His attorney, Sam Amirante, apologized at length, citing earlier instances where the hearings were set for later in the morning.
Peraica was arrested on Oct. 30, 2010 in west suburban McCook, accused of defacing the campaign signs of his Democratic rival, Jeffrey Tobolski, just days before the election. Tobolski went on to win the election.
He has been trying ever since to have the arrest thrown out. He has asked the judge again to reconsider an earlier refusal to toss it, arguing there was no probable cause for police to arrest him.
Peraica’s name — not Amirante’s — appeared on the motion, prompting another outburst from the judge.
“Who’s the lawyer here?” Kennedy said.
The parties are scheduled to appear in court again on Dec. 21. Peraica was released after the hearing.
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