Judge Won't Toss Case Against Peraica

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. (CBS) -- A Cook County Judge won't throw out a case accusing former Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica of stealing an opponent's campaign signs last year.

Peraica was arrested last October for allegedly driving around southwest suburban McCook three days before the election and vandalizing and removing the campaign signs of his Democratic opponent, Jeffrey Tobolski -- who is also mayor of McCook.

A local restaurant owner claimed he saw Peraica damaging some of Tobolski's yard signs. Tobolski defeated Peraica in the November election.

But Peraica argued that McCook police overstepped their authority when they pulled over the white van he was riding in as it turned out of a driveway. Police said the vehicle made a turn without using any signal.

On Wednesday, Cook County Judge Kerry M. Kennedy denied Peraica's motion to have the arrest thrown out.

The case, a misdemeanor count of criminal damage to private property, continues in Cook County Circuit Court in Bridgeview on Oct. 4.

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