Local Police Reports, Park Forest

Park Forest Police Blotter Reports April 25, 2016


squads, police, Park Forest Police Department, PFPD, arrests
Squad vehicles parked outside the Park Forest Police Department. (Photo: Gary Kopycinski)

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.

Special thanks to Barbara Gallagher for assistance proofing and editing these reports.

Persons wishing to leave anonymous information on any criminal matters including narcotics or gang activity are encouraged to call the Park Forest Police Department Investigations Division at (708) 748-1309.

Indi P. Wesley, 22, 1509 S. 2nd St., Apt. 308, Charleston, IL, was arrested on April 12 and issued traffic citations charging operating a motor vehicle with suspended registration and operating an uninsured motor vehicle when an officer stopped at a red light at 26th Street and Western Avenue conducted a LEADS inquiry on the registration of a vehicle that was also stopped at the light.

A man in his 30s rode his bicycle to Taco Bell, 413 Sauk Trail, and went inside to eat on April 12 at approximately 6:30 PM. When he exited the restaurant at approximately 7:10 PM, he got onto his bicycle which was located at the southwest corner of the building. As he was preparing to leave, he was approached by four teenagers, according to police. The subjects were all male and appeared to be between 15 and 17 years of age, according to police. One of the teens said, “Where are you from?” And “Did you try to fight my little brother?” The man ignored the teens and all four subjects then allegedly attacked him without warning, striking him with closed fists and kicking him, according to police. After knocking the man to the ground and striking him numerous times, the group fled the area on foot. The man was transported to St. James Hospital. Police are investigating.

A resident told police on April 13 that he lost his wallet sometime after eating dinner and paying for a meal at the Olive Garden restaurant in Matteson. Realizing that his wallet was missing, he called his bank and was advised that a transaction of $400 was made at a Target store at an unknown time and store location. Police are investigating.

An Illinois license plate #1535972B was reported stolen from the rear of a vehicle from the 300 block of Wilshire Street on April 14.

An officer patrolling in the 200 block of Sauk Trail on April 17 discovered a “No Parking” sign on the ground that appeared to have been run over.

A resident told police on April 18 that someone purchased a 55-inch Samsung UHD curved smart TV using her Fingerhut account. The resident told police that she had not used her account in over a year and received a billing statement from the company showing a balance of $1694.98. The television was delivered to an address in Chicago Heights, according to police. Police are investigating.

Jeremy M. Craig, 20, 5057 Roberts Ridge Rd., Monee, Kwante D. Bright, 20, 635 Sullivan Ln, University Park, and Eric J. Parker, 20, 1120 Abbott Ln., University Park, were arrested on April 18 and issued municipal citations charging possession of cannabis when police were dispatched to the 400 block of Talala Street to conduct a premise exam. A caller advised dispatch that two carloads of subjects went around the back of a house which is vacant, according to police.

Nekia S. Murray, 32, 3 Leims Rd., Park Forest, was arrested on April 19 and charged with criminal damage to property when police were dispatched to the first block of Leims Road to investigate a report of criminal damage to property.

Graffiti was discovered to have been spray-painted on playground equipment at Illinois School, 210 Illinois Street, on April 19.

La Tina Nance, 35, 335 Niagara, Park Forest, was arrested on April 23 when police were dispatched to the 300 block of Niagara Street in reference to a child who had been bitten by a dog. Upon arrival, officers observed a young boy, nine years old, lying on the ground with large bite marks on his right leg. Paramedics were tending to his injuries. The child had bandages covering his right calf and shin area, according to police. The child also exhibited signs of being in shock and was trembling, according to police. Police spoke with the caller who said she was sitting on the front porch of a residence watching over several young children playing in the front lawn. The woman saw a black pit bull and a brown pit bull without collars or leashes approach the residence. Fearing that the dogs were not friendly, she hurried the children inside the residence. While doing so, the nine-year-old was the last child through the front door when the black dog charged and began biting his right leg. After the black dog drew blood on the child, he released his grip and the child was brought inside the residence. La Tina Nance was issued municipal citations charging animal running at large, leash required for dogs, animals without license and tag, and allowing a dog to bite. Nance was placed into custody and taken to the Park Forest Police Department when police discovered that she had an active arrest warrant from the Markham Police Department.

Ashley E. Mitchell, 30, 533 Lakewood Blvd., Park Forest, an was issued a municipal ticket charging throwing, depositing, missiles or glass when an officer patrolling eastbound in the 500 block of Lakewood Boulevard observed a male subject standing outside his vehicle staring at damage on the front driver’s side panel of the vehicle. Officers also observed a female subject, later identified as Mitchell, walking towards the man holding a hammer in her hand. Officers made contact with both subjects. Mitchell stated that she was in her front lawn twirling her hammer as if it were a baton. While twirling her hammer, she allegedly lost grip and let go of the hammer, sending it into traffic and striking the vehicle. While speaking, she repeatedly shouted, “I’m going to pay him $500,” according to police. One officer could also smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage from Mitchell’s breath, according to police.

Rick’l Thompson, 20, 376 Miami St., Park Forest, was arrested on April 24 and charged with obstruction of identification and processed on an outstanding warrant out of Cook County on a charge of violation of probation and a warrant from the Illinois Department of Corrections charging violating parole when police were dispatched to the 300 block of Minocqua Street in reference to an activated burglar alarm.

Martell D. Heard, 24, 4 Apache St., Park Forest, was arrested on April 24 and issued a municipal citation charging disorderly conduct when police were dispatched to the 400 block of South Orchard Drive to investigate a report of a subject who possibly had a gun. When police arrived, a subject was standing in the middle of the street next to a vehicle. There was a subject also sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. The responding officers ordered both subjects to the ground at gunpoint. The subjects were handcuffed and police conducted a protective patdown for officer safety. One officer then advised the reason for the stop and asked if they had any weapons. One of the men related that there was a BB gun on the floor of the passenger seat of the vehicle. Police recovered the BB gun, searched the vehicle, and did not locate any other contraband. An officer then spoke with one of the subjects, Martell D. Heard, who related that the BB gun belong to him and that he was just playing around.


ARCHIVES