Law and Order, Local Police Reports, Park Forest

Arrest After Allegedly Shooting into the Air: Park Forest Police Reports through April 2, 2019


Officer Regis Bowers sworn in as police officer
Officer Regis Bowers’ grandmother pins on his badge at the April 15, 2019, meeting of the Village Board. (Photo: Gary Kopycinski)

Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- These police reports include arrests through April 2, 2019. Charges for those arrested include domestic battery, obstructing identification, and reckless conduct. The reckless conduct charge invited someone allegedly shooting a gun into the air.

Providing more details than readers will find in any other police beat reports, we invite readers to subscribe to get the whole story, every day.

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 DepartmentInvestigations 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.

Domestic Battery

Lemere J. Lindsey, 18, 1005 Samson Dr., University Park, was arrested on March 27 and charged with one count of domestic battery and one count of criminal damage to property after police were dispatched to the 200 block of Allegheny Street in response to a domestic disturbance.

When police arrived, Mr. Lindsey and a woman were arguing on the front lawn which had Mr. Lindsey’s clothing scattered across it, according to the report. According to police, Mr. Lemere appeared highly agitated and refused to speak to officers.

When speaking to officers, the woman claimed that Mr. Lindseye had been staying at the residence with her family for a couple of weeks. Mr. Lindsey allegedly had gotten into an argument with her over messages on her phone which resulted in Mr. Lindsey allegedly punching the wall near her head and putting a hole through it. According to police, the woman told Mr. Lindsey to leave which prompted Mr. Lindsey to allegedly grab her by the arms and push her into a bedroom door. At this point, she claims she feared for her safety, began to scratch Mr. Lindsey, and told a friend to call 911.

According to the police report, Mr. Lindsey suffered several scratches on his face and arms, along with a swollen right hand from punching the wall. The complainant had scratches on both her hands and wrists.

Police arrested Mr. Lindsey and charged him with domestic battery and criminal damage to property. He was processed and placed in a holding cell pending transportation to the Markham Courthouse for a bond hearing, according to the police report.

Unwanted Subject: Obstructing Identification

Nichole Blaxon, 49, 414 W. Lincoln Highway, Chicago Heights, was arrested on March 30 and charged with one count of obstructing identification. At approximately 2:14 PM, officers responded to the Park Forest Library for a report of an unwanted subject. Upon arrival to the scene, officers spoke with a woman who worked at the library who pointed to Ms. Blaxon who was sleeping at a public computer.

According to the police report, officers approached Ms. Blaxon, woke her up, and escorted her outside the library. When asked her name, Ms. Blaxon allegedly responded that she was “Lisa Parker.” However, when officers checked the name they found no record on file for “Lisa Parker.” Officers again asked Ms. Blaxon if “Lisa Parker” was her real name to which she again allegedly confirmed.

An officer collecting Ms. Baxton’s bag from inside the library, police spoke with a woman who had been sitting near Ms. Braxon. According to police, the woman knew who Ms. Blaxon was and told officers that her name was actually “Nichole Blaxon”. When officers asked Ms. Blaxon if “Nichole Blaxon” was her real name, Ms. Blaxon denied and showed paperwork from the University of Chicago Hospital that had the name “Lisa Parker” on it.

Officers transported Ms. Blaxton to the PFPD to have her fingerprints taken, and when Ms. Blaxton entered the booking room she finally provided her real name, according to the police report. Ms. Blaxon was found to have a Cook County warrant on a probation violation charge and was arrested and charged with one count of obstructing identification. Ms. Blaxon was held pending transport the Markham Courthouse for a bond hearing.

Domestic Battery

Devon A. Johnson, 24, 612 Old Forge Court, University Park, was arrested and charged with domestic battery, interfering with the report of domestic violence, and driving while license suspended. Officers responded to the 60 block of Forest Boulevard to a report of a domestic dispute after receiving a call from a juvenile that stated her mother was being struck by a male.

When officers arrived on the scene, they witnessed a black vehicle driving east on Fir Street with the rear driver’s door open, according to the police report. An officer parked behind the vehicle, a black Toyota, and upon approaching the vehicle, the officer saw the alleged female victim in the rear passenger seat crying.  Mr. Johnson was in the front driver’s seat, and by the time the officer approached, had the door open and had both his arms raised outside the vehicle, according to police. One officer escorted the woman to a patrol vehicle, while another officer had Mr. Johnson exit the vehicle. According to the report, one officer noticed Mr. Johnson was bleeding from his face and that his shirt was torn down the front. When asked how he received these injuries, Mr. Johnson allegedly replied, “From her,” according to police.

After conducting a pat-down for weapons, the officer had Mr. Johnson sit in the patrol vehicle uncuffed. According to the police report, when Mr. Johnson was asked what had occurred he said he was contacted by the woman who asked him to return her car. She then said she was coming to get the vehicle which would have left Mr. Johnson stranded at work. Mr. Johnson told his boss he needed to leave early to return the car, and he brought the car to the woman’s residence and asked her to drive him home. At this point, Mr. Johnson still had the car keys with him so he started walking toward the vehicle but the woman kept stopping him. Mr. Johnson claimed he was trying to move her out of his way when his clothes got ripped and he got injured from her fingernails.

Park Forest paramedics arrived on the scene and checked both Mr. Johnson and the woman. Both refused transport to the hospital. According to the report, officers on the scene determined that Mr. Johnson was the alleged aggressor. Mr. Johnson was arrested and charged with domestic battery, interfering with the report of domestic violence, and driving while license suspended. Mr. Johnson was processed and placed in a cell awaiting transport to Markham Courthouse.

Reckless Conduct

Rachaell A. Giles, 27, 253 Blackhawk Drive, Park Forest, was arrested on April 2 and charged with two counts of reckless conduct. Officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Blackhawk Drive to investigate a report of a disturbance.

Upon arrival, officers made contact with the complainant who claimed that an alleged “shooter,” later identified as Rachaell Giles, was last seen at the rear of the residence and that she was probably inside. The complainant was told by a family member of Ms. Giles that Ms. Giles had allegedly fired a “warning shot.”

According to the police report, while officers were speaking to the complainant, Ms. Giles’ boyfriend began to walk up the driveway. This man was detained and when asked where Ms. Giles and the gun were, he told officers that both were in the house.

When Ms. Giles exited the residence she was taken into police custody without incident, according to the report. Allegedly, Ms. Giles claimed that the complainant started a verbal argument with her which led to the complainant coming towards her and Ms. Giles going into the house allegedly to retrieve her gun.

Ms. Giles was informed of her Miranda Rights and gave verbal consent to officers to enter the residence and retrieve her gun, according to police. Officers then transported Ms. Giles and her boyfriend to the Park Forest Police Department for further investigation.

According to the police report, the boyfriend claimed he was at Ms. Giles’ residence putting together a new generator when he heard the verbal argument between Ms. Giles and the complainant and observed Ms. Giles raise her gun in the air and fire one round. Following this, the boyfriend and Ms. Giles ran into the residence where he took the gun from Ms. Giles. He claimed that Ms. Giles did not run into the house to retrieve the gun, but either had it on her or got it out of her car. His interview ended and he was released without charges.

The complainant advised that she wanted to pursue criminal charges against Ms. Giles. Ms. Giles was subsequently processed on two counts of reckless conduct and issued a court date at Markham Courthouse on May 8.\

Police entered a Smith & Wesson pistol and 14 rounds of Smith & Wesson Hordady .40 caliber rounds of ammunition into evidence.


ARCHIVES