Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Editor’s Note: These Park Forest Police blotter reports cover May 15 through May 21, 2018. During this reporting week, charges included a DUI, a felony unlawful use of a weapon (UUW) by a felon, and a few instances of people driving without insurance.
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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 entail 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 acknowledgement by the public.
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.
Speeding, No Insurance, Driving With A Suspended License
Aveion M. Cason Jr., 18, was arrested on May 15 and issued a municipal citation charging possession of cannabis. When the officer conducted a search of Mr. Cason, the officer discovered a plastic sandwich bag containing a green leafy substance suspect cannabis, according to police.
Mr. Cason was additionally issued traffic citations charging speeding above the statutory limit, no insurance, and driving with a suspended driver’s license.
An officer patrolling near the intersection of Western Avenue and Apple Lane observed the vehicle Mr. Cayson was driving traveling southbound approaching the above described intersection at a high rate of speed. According to the officer, the vehicle was traveling 50 miles per hour in a posted 35 miles per hour zone.
Operating An Uninsured Motor Vehicle
Ryan C. Barthelemy, 32, 22111 Millard Ave., Richton Park, was arrested on May 16 and charged with improper lighting – one taillight, operation of an uninsured motor vehicle, and driving while license was suspended.
An officer was patrolling in the area of Blackhawk Drive and Suwanee Street when he observed a vehicle traveling southbound on Blackhawk Drive that had only one illuminated red taillight, according to police. The officer activated the emergency lighting on his patrol vehicle and stopped the car, driven by Mr. Barthelemy, in the 300 block of Blackhawk Drive.
Mr. Barthelemy’s vehicle was towed from the scene due to his driver’s license being suspended, his failure to provide valid proof of insurance, and that police also discovered a blunt containing a green leafy substance, suspect cannabis, in the ashtray of the vehicle, according to the report.
The officer further located a shot glass in the center armrest containing approximately one gram of a green leafy substance, suspect cannabis, according to police. Mr. Barthelemy was not cited on a charge of possession of cannabis due to the minor amount police discovered. An officer disposed of the recovered cannabis at the Park Forest Police Department, according to police.
Damage To Property
Eric L. Tolbert, 20, 313 Waldmann Dr., Park Forest, was issued a municipal citation on May 17 charging damage to property when police were dispatched to the 300 block of Waldman Drive to investigate a report of a domestic disturbance. Brianna M. Jones, 24, Steger, who called police, was taken into custody and arrested on an active warrant out of Will County on a charge of failure to appear.
Ms. Jones and Mr. Tolbert had left their apartment in Steger and drove to 313 Waldman Drive because Mr. Tolbert wanted to pick up some tools, according to the report. According to police, Ms. Jones pulled into the driveway behind Mr. Tolbert’s vehicle. Mr. Tolbert then yelled at her to move her car, which she did not. Mr. Tolbert then got into his vehicle and allegedly reversed into the front bumper of Ms. Jones’s vehicle, attempting to push her vehicle out of the way.
Ms. Jones had followed Mr. Tolbert because she wanted him to watch her two-year-old child and he did not want to watch the child, according to police. After Ms. Jones was taken into custody, Ms. Jones allowed her daughter to be left with Mr. Tolbert at 313 Waldman Drive. Ms. Jones was processed and transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility to wait a bond hearing, according to police.
DUI, BAC Over .08
Keith L. Rumbaugh, 63, 214 Ash St., Park Forest, was arrested on May 17 and charged with DUI and BAC over .08 and improper lane usage.
An officer traveling eastbound on Lincoln Highway approaching Western Avenue at 7:07 PM observed a vehicle stopped at the traffic light at Lincoln Highway and Western Avenue. After the light turned green, the officer observed observed the vehicle make an unusually wide turn onto southbound Western Avenue from Lincoln Highway into the left traffic lane of Western Avenue. The officer further observed that the vehicle came in close proximity to striking a vehicle that was in the left turn lane of northbound Western Avenue, according to the report.
After the vehicle turned into the left traffic lane, the vehicle abruptly switched lanes to the right lane without signaling, according to police. The vehicle then proceeded to travel southbound on Western Avenue at which time it drifted left several feet over the center dashed line, according to police. It traveled over the center line for several moments before its work back into the right lane, according to police.
The officer curbed the vehicle at Western Avenue and Illinois Street.
After curbing the vehicle, the officer approached the driver’s side of the vehicle and made visual contact with the driver. The window was rolled up. The driver, later identified as Keith L. Rumbaugh, saw the officer, but did not immediately attempt to roll down his window, according to police. The officer motioned for the driver to roll down his window at which time the driver attempted to roll down the power window by pressing the window button.
According to police, the driver fumbled for approximately 10 seconds before he was finally able to find the window button and roll it down.
After speaking with Mr. Rumbaughg, the officer smelled the strong odor of alcohol emanating from his breath and observed that he had bloodshot eyes, according to the report.
The officer asked him where he lived, and Mr. Rumbaugh replied, “214 Park Forest, Illinois,” according to police. The officer asked him to clarify what street he lived on, and, according to the report, Mr. Rumbaugh again replied, “214 Park Forest, Illinois.” According to police, the officer asked Mr. Rumbaugh what street he lived on a total of 10 times to which he gave the same answer with slurred speech, “214 Park Forest, Illinois,” without stating what street he lived on.
The officer asked Mr. Rumbaugh to exit his vehicle to perform several Field Sobriety Tests. Mr. Rumbaugh complied. After conducting several tests, the officer advised Mr. Rumbaugh that he was under arrest on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol and placed him into handcuffs. According to the report, Mr. Rumbaugh said, with slurred speech, “I’m almost home. Do you really need to do this?”
Mr. Rumbaugh’s vehicle was subsequently impounded under local ordinance.
The officer took a breath sample at 10:18 PM which indicated a BAC of .158, according to police. Mr. Rumbaugh was assigned a court date of June 14, 2018 at Markham Courthouse.
Unauthorized Use Of Registration, No Insurance
Justin I. George, 22, 1414 Donovan Dr., Chicago Heights, was arrested on May 18 and charged with unauthorized use of registration, no insurance, defective exhaust, and possession of cannabis (under 100 grams) when an officer traveling north on Western Avenue approaching 26th Street at 12:50 AM observed a vehicle traveling east on 26th Street from Western Avenue that had a very loud noise coming from it, according to police.
The vehicle was the only one in the area, according to police.
The officer realized that the noise was from a defective exhaust, according to the report. The officer observed that the muffler was hanging lower than it should from the rear of the vehicle. The officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle, which turned southbound on Birch Street from 26th Street and stopped.
Immediately after it stopped, and unknown male emerged from the front passenger door and ran southwest through the grass toward the cooperatives and out of sight, according to police.
Not knowing the circumstances for the unknown subject’s flight, and fearing that the remaining subjects could either be armed or cause harm to the officer if he approached, the officer unholstered his service weapon and obtained a position of cover behind his squad car, giving verbal commands to the occupants.
Other officers arrived on the scene to assist.
The people inside the vehicle said they did not know the identity of the man who fled, according to police.
The driver, Mr. George, did not have proof of insurance. He related that he had just purchased the vehicle on May 17 from an unknown person in the Eastgate neighborhood of Park Forest. He did not have proof of insurance, a signed title, or any other proof of purchase, according to police. A check on the registration of the vehicle through LEADS revealed that the plate was registered to a different vehicle, according to police.
Upon searching Mr. George’s person, an officer located two digital scales in his right front jacket pocket. He also possessed a counterfeit $100 bill, according to police.
Inside the vehicle, police located a gray plastic bag which contained three smaller clear plastic baggies. These smaller baggies contained a green plant like material that resembled cannabis, according to police.
One passenger in the vehicle denied ownership of the cannabis and was not observed to be committing any criminal offense. Therefore, he was released on the scene and provided transportation to a location in Chicago Heights.
A 16-year-old in the vehicle claimed that his mother did not know his whereabouts, so he was held in custody for a curfew violation. Police contacted his mother at 2:10 AM and informed her of her son’s custodial status.
The vehicle was towed and seized, per village ordinance.
Police discovered that another passenger, Tommie L. Glasper III, 21, 2301 63rd Place, Merrilville, IN, had an extraditable warrant for his arrest issued by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana on a charge of aggravated assault. Mr. Glasper’s warrant was confirmed as extraditable, and he was charged with obstructing identification and processed on the warrant.
Finally, another passenger, Dajane A. Marshall, 20, 714 27th Ave. N, Nashville, TN, was also arrested, taken into custody, and issued a municipal citation charging possession of cannabis — under 10 grams. She signed the citation and was released.
Operating An Uninsured Motor Vehicle
Alexis I. Watson, 24, 5636 Pebble Beach Dr., Hanover Park, IL, was arrested on May 18 and charged with operating an uninsured motor vehicle, issued a state citation charging disobeying a traffic control signal, and issued a municipal citation charging possession of cannabis.
An officer observed the vehicle Ms. Watson was driving allegedly pass through the intersection at Western Avenue and 26th Street while the light was red, according to police.
During a search of the vehicle, police located a drawstring pouch that contained four small clear Ziploc baggies, each containing a green leafy plantlike material that resembled cannabis, according to police. The vehicle was towed from the scene and seized per local ordinance.
A passenger in the vehicle, Eshante B. J. Poindexter, 20, 368 Main St., Park Forest, was issued a municipal citation charging illegal transportation of alcohol in a vehicle.
No Arrest: Possession Of Open Liquor By A Driver
Deangelo G. Washington, 27, 9131 S. Loomis St., Chicago, was issued citations on March 19 charging speeding, possession of open liquor by a driver, and issued municipal citations charging possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia, when an officer observed the vehicle Washington was driving traveling at 75 miles per hour in the posted 40 miles per hour zone eastbound on Lincoln Highway from the Metra Rail.
A search of the trunk revealed a camouflage gas-style mask with a green smoking to attached which police say is used to ingest cannabis, according to the report. Mr. Washington stated that the mask was his and did not belong to a passenger with him who owned the car. The vehicle was towed and seized under local ordinance.
Mr. Washington and the owner of the vehicle were released from the scene and not arrested.
Missing Juveniles Found Sleeping In A Car
Two juveniles who had been reported missing were discovered sleeping in a car in the area of Washington Street and Watseka Street on May 19 at 7:34 AM.
Police detected a strong odor of burnt cannabis emanating from the person of one of the juveniles.
A man responded to the scene and said that he owned the vehicle but refused to identify himself. The vehicle was towed from the scene and seized due to the suspect cannabis. The tow sheet and seizure paperwork were sent via certified mail to the registered owner of the vehicle.
One juvenile was issued municipal citations charging possession of cannabis, sleeping in public, and curfew. The other juvenile was issued municipal citations charging sleeping in public and curfew.
Felony Unlawful Use Of A Weapon By A Felon
Cordell J. Franklin, 24, 1314 Lincoln Ave., Chicago Heights, was arrested on May 19 and charged with one felony count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon/previous conviction (Class 2). Mr. Franklin was also issued a traffic citation charging failure to wear a seatbelt.
At approximately 11:57 PM, an officer observed a vehicle driving northbound on Western Avenue where it appeared that the occupants of the vehicle were not wearing seatbelts. The officer pulled alongside the vehicle and confirmed that the passengers were not wearing seatbelts.
While searching Mr. Franklin’s person, an officer discovered a loaded Ruger 22/45 MK III .22 Long Rifle Handgun in Mr. Franklin’s front right pocket, according to police. At this point, Mr. Franklin was arrested and transported to the Park Forest Police Department, along with three passengers, pending further investigation, according to police.
The driver, James D. Robinson, age 30, 316 Illinois St., Park Forest, was issued traffic citations charging improper signal when changing lanes and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Ms. Robinson identifies as a female named Kathryn, according to the report. During the course of this investigation, the officer learned that Ms. Robinson allegedly provided police with a fictitious name. Ms. Robinson’s real name is KT Simmons, according to police. Police will continue the investigation of obstructing identification against Simmons, according to the report.
A passenger in the vehicle, Brandy M. Byrd, 22, 1814 W. 183rd St., Homewood, was issued municipal citations charging failure to wear a seatbelt and possession of cannabis. She was also the owner of the vehicle, which was towed from the scene.
Another passenger in the vehicle, Andrew L. Powell, 24, 22502 Arquilla Dr., Richton Park, was issued municipal citations charging failure to wear a seatbelt and possession of cannabis.
Mr. Byrd, Ms. Robinson, and Mr. Powell were each released from the Park Forest Police Department. Mr. Franklin remained in custody at the station pending transport to the Markham Courthouse for a felony bond hearing.
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