Local Police Reports, Park Forest

Park Forest Police Blotter Reports for September 26, 2016


Park Forest police shield police blotter
Inside the Park Forest Police Station. (Photo: Gary Kopycinski)

Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)— Editor’s Note: We continue our reporting on news from police blotter 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.

Five white, wooden deck spindles of a porch in the first block of Apache Street were reported damaged on September 15.

Justin C. Howard, 18, 916 Donnington Dr., Matteson, was arrested on September 17 and issued a municipal citation charging possession of cannabis. Howard was also issued a citation charging speeding over the statutory limit. An officer patrolling on Sauk Trail observed that the vehicle Howard was allegedly driving was traveling westbound on Sauk Trail, approaching Minocqua Street, at 52 mph in a posted 35 mph zone, according to police.

Arnell L. Elam, 48, 317 Windsor St., Park Forest, was arrested on September 19 and charged with displaying a registration sticker not authorized by law for use on such a vehicle, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, operating a vehicle with expired registration, and illegal transportation/possession of alcoholic liquor. An officer driving westbound on Illinois Street at the east intersection of Indiana Street observed a vehicle turn from northbound Indiana Street onto westbound, Illinois Street in front of the officer. The officer conducted a LEADS inquiry of the vehicles registration status and learned that the registration was expired, according to police.

An officer was summoned to the Park Forest Police Department on September 19 to investigate a report of unlawful use of a credit card. Police have suspect information and are investigating.

A resident reported at the Park Forest Police Department on September 19 that he had learned from a credit monitoring service that a credit card had been opened in his name. He did not apply for a credit card from the bank in question, nor did he authorize anyone to do so, according to police. The resident did not suffer a monetary loss but wish to have this incident documented since someone, apparently opened a credit card account with his name and Social Security number.

An officer was flagged down by a resident in the 400 block of Rutledge Street on September 20. The resident said that she noticed that her rear driver side tire was flat that morning, went and put air into the tire, and could hear the area, leaving the tire. She observed a hole in the tire and believe that someone may have damaged the tire. The officer indicated in a report that it appeared that an unknown subject punctured the outer wall of the tire with a sharp object.

A 25-inch Vizio flat-screen television valued at $150 and a purse were reported stolen during a residential burglary in the 200 block of Indianwood Boulevard on September 20, police observed that the metal plate that surrounds the door knob on the front door had multiple gashes in it which appeared to be consistent with a prying device.

Officers were dispatched to the Park Forest Police Department on September 21 to investigate a report of identity theft. A resident told police that, several days prior, he had received a letter in the mail from a discount furniture store congratulating him on opening a new credit card account. The resident told police that he never applied for the credit card.

Jessica I. Smith, 25, 23433 S. Western Ave., Park Forest, was arrested on September 21 and charged with one count of harassment through electronic communication when police responded to the Park Forest Police Department to investigate a report of harassment.

Police responded to the 200 block of Allegheny Street on September 22 at approximately 10:13 PM to investigate a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers spoke learned that several subjects were standing near a vehicle in front of a residence in the 200 block of Allegheny Street. A witness reported hearing several gunshots, came outside to investigate and observed that all of the subjects were gone. Officers canvassed the street and located .38 special shell casings in front of one residence, .40 caliber shell casings on the street in front of another residence, and .357 shell casings in front of three other residences.. Officers did not locate any projectile impacts on any of the nearby homes. No one was reported injured.

A white 2013 4-door Mazda MZ3, Illinois license plate Q287115, was reported stolen from the 300 block of Oakwood Street on September 23.

A resident told an officer at the Park Forest Police Department on September 23 that she was notified by Credit Karma that a hard credit inquiry was made using her information on September 20, 2016, by Verizon. She contacted Verizon and learned that someone had used her personal information online to order to cell phones. The order was canceled and the victim did not lose any money. The victim was provided with an identity theft brochure.


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