Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)— Police have arrested two adults and four juveniles in connection with two alleged strong-arm robberies reported last Friday.
On Friday, May 2, at 6:38 p.m., police were dispatched to the 200 block of Farragut in reference to a report of a robbery which had just occurred in the 200 block of Farragut. According to the report, there were six male black offenders who fled in a silver Pontiac.
The alleged victim reported that while walking westbound on Farragut after going to the movies, a silver or gray colored Pontiac traveling east on Farragut slowed to a stop and began backing toward him. A male black subject wearing a black colored shirt hoodie with red and white designs on it got out of the vehicle on the driver’s side and began walking beside the victim. According to police, the suspect asked the victim if he knew the man named "Geo.” The victim replied that he did not. The suspect then asked him if he knew a girl named Brittany, mumbled something incoherently, and then allegedly punched the victim on the right side of his face, knocking him to the ground.
As the suspect allegedly repeatedly punched and kicked the victim as he was on the ground, a second suspect, a black male wearing a white shirt or white hoodie joined the first suspect and began punching and kicking the victim in the face and head, according to police. While the victim was on the ground, the first suspect told him, "Run your pockets!" The victim removed and handed over from his pockets his cell phone, his wallet, and some other items. The victim also relinquished his orange New York Yankees baseball cap, according to police.
The victim told police the suspects then entered the Pontiac, which then fled from the scene. All the suspects in the vehicle were described as male black subjects between 15 and 18 years of age and average build, according to police.
At 6:44 p.m., Detective Rzyski was in an unmarked patrol vehicle in the area of Indiana and Grant streets when he observed a male black subject allegedly kicking another male black subject who was lying on the grass in the parkway in the 200 block of Grant Street, according to police. There was also a silver Pontiac Grand Prix parked facing eastbound on Indiana St., approximately 10 feet from where the subject was allegedly kicking the victim.
Detective Rzyski positioned his vehicle in front of the Pontiac, exited the vehicle and identified himself as a Park Forest Police Officer. He requested backup and instructed all six male occupants of the vehicle to put their hands in the air. Other officers responded and all six suspects were taken into custody, two adults and four juveniles.
Police interviewed the victim, who related that he was sitting on his bicycle on the sidewalk when the silver Pontiac pulled next to him. The front seat passenger allegedly asked him if he knew where they could get any "weed,” according to police. The victim said he replied, "no," when one of the occupants exited the vehicle, asked him some more questions, and allegedly struck him on the back of his head with a closed fist as he was about to ride away on his bike. The blow caused the victim to fall off his bicycle onto the ground. The victim stated that the alleged offender then attempted to "stomp" on his head with his foot, but the victim was able to raise his hands and absorb the blow with his forearms, according to police.
Later that night, detectives interviewed the alleged offenders. All six attend Crete-Monee High School and are residents of University Park. According to statements given by the alleged offenders, they decided they were going to drive around looking for people to beat up, according to police. All of the subjects entered the silver Pontiac and drove around Park Forest looking for someone to "jump," according to police.
Dwayne C. Blackmon, 17, 1002 Mildred Lane, University Park, was arrested and charged with one felony count of robbery. Teyonn M. Hatten, 18, 970 Morning Side, University Park, was arrested and charged with one felony count of robbery and one count of attempted robbery. Due to the fact that all juveniles reside in Will County, they were processed on two counts of robbery and transported to the Will County River Valley Justice Center pending a detention hearing on May 5, 2008, at 9:00 a.m.
