Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- These police reports include arrests through March 11, 2019. Charges for those arrested include driving while license was suspended, no valid driver’s license, DUI, and a juvenile who was charged with aggravated speeding.
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eNews Park Forest has always published addresses of those arrested and will continue to do so. 5 ILCS 140/2.15 states that the governmental body (for these reports, the Police Department), shall release information on those who have been charged, including their name, age, and address. This information is necessary to ensure the proper identity of those arrested.
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 the Park Forest Police Department Investigations Division at (708) 748-1309.
eNews Park Forest reports this information because the public in the United States has the right to know. When that information is withheld or under-reported, it leaves questions. We also want to show the work that the police force does every day that is not reported. Police in Park Forest respond to thousands of calls per year, the vast majority of which do not end up with arrests. Whether it’s conducting a routine investigation, pulling over a drunk driver, or responding to a possible theft at a store, the work of the police officer deserves acknowledgment by the public.
Driving While License Suspended
David P. Shoup, 37, 5501 Miller Circle Dr., Matteson, was arrested on March 5 and charged with driving while license was suspended, illegal transportation of alcoholic liquor by a driver, operation of an uninsured motor vehicle, improper use of registration, and expired registration. Police released Mr. Shoup after he posted $200 cash bond. He was assigned a court date of April 24, 2019, and provided with an escort to his residence.
An officer performed a license plate inquiry on a silver Hyundai Genesis as the Hyundai was traveling eastbound on Monee Road from Ottawa Street and the officer was traveling westbound on Monee Road. The officer learned that the registration on the vehicle was expired. Near Western Avenue and Monee Road, the officer was able to confirm that the registration of the vehicle matched the inquiry. The officer also observed that the license plate had a valid registration sticker displayed in the upper right-hand corner of the license plate.
The officer observed the driver allegedly make a lane change violation and activated the emergency lights in the patrol vehicle just after turning onto Western Avenue from Monee Road and curbed the vehicle at Western Avenue and Apple Lane.
The officer approached the vehicle and spoke with the driver, later identified as David Shoup. The officer requested Mr. Shoup’s driver’s license and insurance card and observed that Mr. Shoup had bloodshot, “glossy eyes that appeared sensitive” to the officer’s flashlight, according to police.
Mr. Shoup allegedly admitted to the officer that he did not have his license on him but did have a photo identification card. He also stated that he did not have insurance for his vehicle and explained that he had it all at his work. The officer detected a faint scent of an alcoholic beverage emanating from Mr. Shoup’s breath, according to the report. Upon conducting a LEADS inquiry, the officer learned that Mr. Shoup had a suspended driver’s license. At the Park Forest Police Department, Mr. Shoup submitted to a breath test which showed a result of 0.033 and Mr. Shoup was consequently dismissed for any alleged findings of driving under the influence, according to police.
No Valid Driver’s License
Davante M. Donaldson, 21, 3448 Western Ave., Park Forest, was arrested on March 6 and issued state citations charging no valid driver’s license and obstructed windshield with a mandatory court date of April 24, 2019, at the Markham Courthouse. Mr. Donaldson was also issued a municipal citation charging possession of cannabis with an optional court date of March 28, 2019, at the Park Forest Police Department.
An officer traveling north on Western Avenue toward the intersection of Dogwood Street and Western Avenue passed Dogwood Street and observed a silver 2011 Chevrolet Impala facing west on Dogwood Street that allegedly had an object hanging from the rearview mirror that appeared to obstruct the driver’s view to the front, according to police.
The officer curbed the vehicle at Western Avenue and Birch Street.
Immediately making contact with Mr. Donaldson, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, the officer smelled a strong odor of cannabis emanating from the interior of the vehicle. Mr. Donaldson later allegedly admitted that cannabis had been smoked inside the vehicle two days prior and that he does not possess a valid medical cannabis license, according to police.
The officer asked Mr. Donaldson for his driver’s license and proof of insurance. Mr. Donaldson presented a valid insurance card but related that he did not have a driver’s license. Instead, he provided an Illinois identification card. The officer conducted a LEADS inquiry through SouthCom Dispatch which confirmed that Mr. Donaldson did not have a valid driver’s license.
The officer asked Mr. Donaldson to exit the vehicle and then placed Mr. Donaldson in handcuffs. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, the officer recovered half-burnt hand-rolled cigar that contained suspect cannabis from a plastic grocery bag on the passenger floorboard. The officer also found a box under the passenger seat that contained four additional partially burnt “blunts” as well as loose broken down cannabis, according to police.
Mr. Donaldson’s vehicle was towed from the scene and impounded.
Domestic Battery
Antwain M. Brooks, 39, 215 Peterson Ave., Sauk Village, was arrested on March 9 and charged with one count of domestic battery after police were dispatched to the 300 block of Miami Street to investigate a report of a domestic disturbance.
According to dispatch, Mr. Brooks had allegedly hit the complainant with a stick.
Upon arrival, officers met with the complainant who advised that she was the one who called the police. She permitted police to enter the residence and police observed Mr. Brooks standing inside the family room. Mr. Brooks allegedly immediately stated, “Come get me. I beat the shit out of her with a stick, you could come get me,” according to the report.
Police asked Mr. Brooks to come into another room where Mr. Brooks allegedly told police that the argument was over “bullshit” and further told police that he “ain’t right in the head,” according to the report.
Police were unable to observe any markings, bruising, swelling, redness, or lacerations on the alleged victim’s person. She told police that she was uninjured and refused any type of medical assistance, according to police.
Mr. Brooks was transported to the Park Forest Police Department, charged, and placed into a cell awaiting transportation to the Markham Courthouse for a bond hearing, according to police.
DUI
Michael R. Carter Jr., 36, 167 Elder Ave., Chicago Heights, was arrested on March 10 and charged with DUI alcohol, DUI alcohol over .08, transportation of liquor by a driver, uninsured motor vehicle, and driving without lights.
Officers were completing a call for service at a business in the first block of South Orchard Drive at 1:56 AM when an officer observed a silver Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck traveling northbound through the parking lot of Orchard Plaza strike a yellow cement pole, one of the four that surrounds a fire hydrant at the far north and of the lot. The officer then observed that the driver of the vehicle reversed off the pole and left the parking lot with no lights on, traveling northbound on South Orchard Drive.
Police activated the emergency lights and siren of their squad vehicle and curbed the Silverado at South Orchard Drive and Lakewood Boulevard. The driver stopped and parked the vehicle in the left northbound traffic lane slightly over the center lane divider, according to police. Police observed the driver, later identified as Michael Carter Jr. along with a passenger in the front passenger seat.
Mr. Carter was smoking a cigarette and appeared extremely confused by the officer’s presence, according to police.
The officer observed an open 200-milliliter glass bottle of Hennessy and a cup containing alcohol in the cupholder of the vehicle. The officer asked Mr. Carter why he left the scene after striking a pole with his vehicle. Mr. Carter replied that he didn’t know that he struck a pole. The officer then asked Mr. Carter for his driver’s license and proof of insurance. Mr. Carter began searching inside his armrest to locate his identification. After nearly a minute of searching inside the armrest, the officer again requested that Mr. Carter present his documents. Mr. Carter picked up his cell phone and began searching inside his phone for his proof of insurance. Mr. Carter scrolled in his phone but failed to find proof of insurance. Mr. Carter then pulled his wallet from his rear pocket and provided the officer with his driver’s license.
The officer asked Mr. Carter where they were coming from and Mr. Carter pointed his finger out the window and stated, “The bowling alley.”
Park Forest does not have a bowling alley in village limits.
While speaking with Mr. Carter, the officer could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath and observed his eyes to be glassy and bloodshot, according to police. The officer asked Mr. Carter if he consumed anything to drink at the bowling alley and Mr. Carter allegedly shook his head and replied, “Yes.” The officer asked Mr. Carter if he was drunk and Mr. Carter allegedly replied, “Yup.”
The officer asked Mr. Carter if he would be willing to take standard field sobriety tests to which he allegedly responded, “No, I’ll probably fail.” After displaying “clear indications of intoxication during the encounter,” according to the report, the officer placed Mr. Carter in handcuffs and transported him to the Park Forest Police Department. His vehicle was towed from the scene and seized under a local ordinance.
At the station, Mr. Carter agreed to take standard field sobriety tests.
During one of the tests, the officer caught Mr. Carter as he nearly fell at one point. The officer stopped the field sobriety tests fearing that Mr. Carter would hurt himself while performing the tests.
Mr. Carter then told the officer, “I told you I was drunk,” according to police.
After a 20 minute observation, another officer administered a breath test to Mr. Carter at 3:51 AM which indicated a Blood Alcohol Content of .251, according to police, over three times the legal limit.
Mr. Carter was charged and later issued an I-Bond, given copies of the Warning to Motorist’s, signed a sworn report, tow sheet, breath test receipt, and released.
Juvenile Charged with Aggravated Speeding
A 17-year-old juvenile was arrested on March 11 and charged with one count of reckless driving, aggravated speeding, failure to signal when required, and improper passing. The juvenile was provided a mandatory court appearance of April 2, at 2019, at the Markham Courthouse.
An officer was dispatched to a call at approximately 7:39 PM. Upon approaching the intersection of Lakewood Boulevard and Orchard Drive, the officer noted two vehicles traveling westbound through the intersection on a green traffic signal. While driving through the intersection, the vehicle to the rear, a black sedan, passed the lead vehicle in the middle of the intersection and allegedly failed to signal while doing so, according to police.
The report notes that Lakewood Boulevard is only a two-lane street with a posted speed limit of 30 miles per hour traffic immediately west of Orchard Drive and Lakewood Boulevard is additionally controlled by a double solid yellow line signifying it is a no passing zone, according to police.
After the sedan passed the lead vehicle, the alleged offending vehicle began to quickly increase speed westbound, according to police.
The officer attempted to catch up to the vehicle to obtain the vehicle’s registration prior to signaling the driver to stop. The vehicle the officer was following continued westbound while gaining speed at a very high rate, according to police. While traveling westbound on Lakewood Boulevard, the officer’s patrol vehicle reached speeds in excess of 75 miles per hour with the alleged offending vehicle still gaining distance on the officer, according to police.
Prior to reaching the intersection of Lakewood Boulevard and Westwood Drive, the officer activated the emergency lighting on his patrol vehicle. The officer soon caught up with the alleged offending vehicle which curbed just prior to reaching Westwood Drive, according to police.
The officer asked the driver, later identified as a 17-year-old juvenile, why he was in such a rush. The juvenile informed the officer that his mother had called him and said that she needed him. The juvenile did not elaborate on what exactly his mother needed. Another officer arrived on the scene to assist.
The juvenile was taken into custody on suspicion of reckless driving and aggravated speeding and placed into the rear of a patrol vehicle. The vehicle the juvenile was driving was towed from the scene and seized per village ordinance, according to police.
At approximately 8:20 PM, an officer noted that the juvenile was housed inside an adult holding cell although he was only 17 years old. The officer immediately notified his on-duty commander and the juvenile was immediately moved into a juvenile holding cell. The juvenile was further provided a phone call to his mother.
