St. Charles man charged with DUI, endangering kids

Police say a St. Charles man put his children in harm's way Sunday when he drove them to a park under the influence of alcohol and drugs, striking a mailbox and tree before pulling up next to a piece of playground equipment.

It was Dirk W. Hary's third DUI arrest in six months.

St. Charles police said Hary, 40, of the 2500 block of King Richard Circle, was arrested a little after 1 p.m. after crashing an Infiniti QX56 into a tree and mailbox as he entered Charlemagne Park, at Indian Way and Oxbow Lane, with his three sons, ages 7, 2 and 1, unrestrained in the front seat.

The vehicle came to a stop next to playground equipment inside the actual park, police said, and the children got out wearing only pajamas. A witness alerted authorities to the situation, said police spokesman Paul McCurtain.

"It appeared as though he was under the influence, and field sobriety tests were given, which (Hary) failed," he said.

Hary was charged with driving under the combined influence of alcohol and prescription drugs, endangering the life of a child, improper lane use and operating an uninsured vehicle. Police said he also was cited for the children being unrestrained.

According to court records, Hary currently has two other DUI cases pending in Kane County stemming from arrests in St. Charles on Dec. 17, 2009, and March 22. He also has five convictions for speeding since 1999, court records show.

Defense attorney Gary Johnson, who is representing Hary, said he had little information on the latest case Tuesday and declined to comment.

Hary, who is free on a $3,000 bond, is scheduled to appear in court on June 16. His children have been turned over to their mother, police said.