Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)–Editor’s Note: We continue our reporting on news from police reports. Besides covering the many stories from around Park Forest that otherwise might go unnoticed, we want to bring more complete coverage of police reports than is reported by other local media.
An arrest does not mean that a person is guilty. All those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty. It is the policy of eNews Park Forest to not remove items in the public record from publication. If your name is listed in the police reports, we will only add information relevant to the final disposition of the case at hand, e.g. “Mr. Smith was subsequently acquitted,” “Mr. Smith entered a guilty plea,” or “All charges against Mr. Smith were subsequently dropped.” We will do so upon receiving and verifying proof of such disposition.
Persons wishing to leave anonymous information on any criminal matters including narcotics or gang activity are encouraged to call 708-748-4701.
A resident told police on November 16 that she received a message via the social media website LinkedIn from a friend containing information as to how she could make extra money doing secret shopping at various retail establishments. The woman asked her friend if the message was legitimate and her friend said that it was. She emailed the person listed in the contact information as to how she could participate in secret shopping. She was told that her first assignment would be mailed to her residence. She received a letter with instructions and a cashier’s check for $2960 which she was instructed to deposit into her bank account, take out $2560 in cash, and transfer that money via Money Gram and, keeping $400 cash for herself for her services. She deposited the money into her account and waited until the next day to see if the check had cleared. She was told by Bank of America that the check had cleared and the funds were available in her account. She withdrew $2560 cash and sent it via Money Gram to a person in Puerto Rico, according to the instructions. She discovered two days later that her bank had reversed the entire amount of the check she had deposited into her account and her account now showed a negative balance. Police are investigating this as a possible fraud.
Rodney J. Chambers, 45, 3252 Western Ave., Park Forest, was arrested on November 18 and charged with retail theft when police were dispatched to the first block of Main Street to investigate a report of a retail theft in progress.
Police responded to a report of someone vandalizing buildings with spray paint in the 100 block of Sycamore Drive on November 19.
A Balance Board valued at $399.99 was reported stolen from a business in the 400 block of Sauk Trail on November 19.
Related: Park Forest Police Share Photo of Alleged Suspect In Connection With $400 Retail Theft
George K. Amerson, 53, 1631 Buena Vista Ave., Chicago, was arrested on November 19 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, having a BAC over .08, improper lane usage, speeding over the posted limit, and no insurance when an officer observed the vehicle Amerson was driving eastbound on Sauk Trail near the intersection of Sauk Trail and Orchard Drive allegedly cross over the line dividing the two eastbound lanes, increase speed to 50 mph in a posted 35 mph zone, cross over the lines dividing the two eastbound lanes again, and repeatedly make drastic and abrupt speed changes ranging from 30 mph up to 50 mph, according to police.
Justin M. Hampton, 23, 22254 Merrill Ave., Sauk Village, was arrested on November 20 and processed on a Cook County bond forfeiture warrant charging obstructing identification when police observed a vehicle traveling southbound on Western Avenue approaching South Street with no taillights, according to police. Hampton was a passenger in the vehicle, according to police.
John P. Morgan, 36, 26 Monee Rd., Park Forest, was arrested on November 21 and charged with one felony count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon when police responded to the first block of Monee Road to inquire about a domestic dispute that took place the night before, according to police.
An officer was on stationary patrol in a parking lot in the first block of Main Street when he observed a southbound vehicle on Western Avenue disobey a red light. He caught up to the vehicle as it turned west on Indianwood Boulevard and initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle as it turned southbound onto Hemlock Street. According to police, the vehicle continued driving at approximately 30 mph and did not stop. The vehicle then turned into Court H-11 and slowed down as if the vehicle was about to stop. The vehicle then continued through the court at a low rate of speed and turned north onto Lester Road, according to police. The vehicle then pulled over to the curb in the 100 block of Lester Road and stopped. The driver exited the vehicle immediately and fled, according to police. Police discovered that the vehicle was occupied by a woman and her three children. She refused to identify who was driving the vehicle and would not provide a name as to who owns the vehicle. She was then advised that the vehicle was being towed for investigative purposes. The woman refused a ride home and was allowed to leave with her children, according to police. Police are investigating.
The passenger side front and rear tires of a vehicle parked in the 100 block of Sycamore Drive were reported slashed on November 21.
An officer responded to the Park Forest Police Department on November 21 and told police that, after he had conducted business at the US Post Office in Park Forest, he was struck in the face from behind by someone he believes had been waiting in line at the post office. The victim had not spoken with the man who struck him, according to police. Police are investigating.
Travis V. Jones, 40, 15518 Turlington St., Harvey, was arrested on November 22 and charged with one count of misdemeanor criminal trespass to land when police responded to a residence in the 400 block of Sauk Trail in reference to a report of an unwanted subject.
Police were dispatched to the first block of Leims Road on November 23 where a resident told them that, while getting ready to leave and go to work, she went downstairs to prepare for lunch and noticed that her back door was open. She exited the residence and discovered that her vehicle’s front driver’s side window was broken out. She also discovered that her wallet was missing from her living room table. Police are investigating.
Entry was made to an unlocked vehicle parked in the 100 block of Berry Street on November 23. Police say even though the inside of the vehicle was ransacked, nothing was reported stolen.
A back door of a residence in the 200 block of Todd Street was discovered to have been kicked in on November 23. Nothing was reported stolen from the residence.
An Apple iMac computer, a 55-inch LED flat-screen television, and a number of items of jewelry were reported stolen during a residential burglary in the 100 block of Hemlock Street on November 23. Police say entry was gained to the residence by smashing a window of a back door.
Dechiann Wallace, 24, 923 Hubbard Lane, Danville, IL, was arrested on November 24 and issued a municipal ticket charging possession of cannabis and citations charging one headlamp and no proof of insurance when an officer on patrol observed that the vehicle Wallace was driving southbound on Western Avenue from Steger Road had only one working headlamp, according to police.
Related: Park Forest Police Share Photo of Alleged Suspect In Connection With $400 Retail Theft
