Local Police Reports

Park Forest Police Reports for December 21, 2009


Park Forest Police Station

The Park Forest Police Station. (Photo: Wendy Heise)

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

Persons wishing to leave anonymous information on any criminal matters including narcotics or gang activity are encouraged to call 708-748-1309 and leave a message on Detective Beilke’s voice mail.

Rodney D. Welch, 43, 12 Somonauk Ct., Park Forest, was arrested on December 8 and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and solicitation when police conducted surveillance at a business in the 300 block of Sauk Trail, an area police say he is known for high drug activity.

Police were dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of Farragut Street on December 9 to investigate a report of residential burglary. Police determined that an unknown person(s) had gained entry to the house through a door facing the driveway. Nothing appeared to be missing. Police continue to investigate.

Glen E. Harper, 20, 1927 Concord Dr., Chicago Heights, was arrested on December 11 and charged with speeding, failure to signal, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle when police observed the vehicle Harper was driving southbound on Western Avenue at Elm Street move from the left lane to the right lane without using a turn signal, according to police.

A juvenile was arrested and charged with possession of tobacco by a minor when police observed him running from the backyard of a residence in the 200 block of Indianwood Boulevard. Police detained him due to several residential burglaries in the area, according to police.

A black case containing an alto saxophone valued at $500 was reported stolen from the driveway of a residence in the 500 block of Antietam Street on December 12.

Joshua B. Oeler, 19, 23730 S. Ashland Ave., Crete, and Nicholas R. Joyce, 19, 3246 Phillips Ave., Steger, were arrested on December 12 and charged with two felony counts each of burglary to motor vehicle when police were dispatched to the 100 block of North Arbor Trail to investigate a report of a burglary to motor vehicle in progress.

Police were dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of Illinois Street on December 13 to investigate a domestic disturbance. Police have suspect information and continue to investigate.

Police were dispatched to the lobby of the Park Forest Police Department on December 13 shortly before midnight to investigate a report of battery. The complainant reported that while driving northeast on Westwood Drive, she noticed a car behind her honking its horn and flashing its headlights. Believing that it was possibly a relative or friend trying to make contact with her or the passenger in the vehicle, she pulled the vehicle over just east of the intersection of Westwood Drive and Park Street. The vehicle following behind them also pulled over. According to the complainant, she exited the vehicle, and a female subject exited the other vehicle, charged toward her and punched her in the left eye, causing her to lose her balance and fall backward onto the parkway. A second female subject also exited the vehicle and allegedly attacked the complainant while she was on the ground. At this point, the passenger accompanying the complainant got out of the car and yelled that she was going to call the police. The offenders then immediately returned to their vehicle and were last seen going east on Westwood Drive. Police have suspect information and continue to investigate.

A student was arrested on December 14 and charged with possession of cannabis when police were dispatched to Park Forest Academy, 375 Oswego Street, to investigate a report of possession of cannabis by a student.

A GPS holder/charger valued at $20, a Garman GPS unit valued at $400, a Nintendo DS valued at $199, three dollars in loose change and miscellaneous personal documents were reported stolen from a vehicle parked in the commuter lot in the 500 block of Homan Avenue, on December 14. Entry was gained to the vehicle by breaking a window and bending the door frame, according to police.

A Jenson DVD player valued at $800 was reported stolen from a vehicle parked in the 500 block of Homan Ave., the Illinois commuter lot, on December 14. Entry was gained to the vehicle by breaking a window, according to police.

A Pioneer AM/FM/CD player valued at $120 and 20 miscellaneous CDs valued at $300 were reported stolen from a vehicle parked in the first block of South Orchard Drive on December 14.

An in-dash TV/stereo, two 12-inch Pioneer subwoofer speakers, two 6”x9” Pioneer speakers, and two 6-inch Tweeter speakers were reported stolen from a vehicle parked in the first block of South Orchard Drive on December 14.

The driver’s side rear window of a vehicle parked in the 200 block of Early Street was reported shattered on December 14.

Three cell phones and $100 cash were reported stolen from a business in the 22000 block of Central Park Avenue on December 14. According to police, the store’s alarm had activated on Saturday, December 14, at 10:54 p.m. According to police, the alarm company contacted the owner who told them not to call police because he was having problems with the alarm in that store.

Rigoberto Brown, 17, 3133 Western Ave., Park Forest, was arrested on December 15 and charged with retail theft when an officer conducted a premise exam in the area of Walgreens Pharmacy, 15 S. Orchard Dr., due to the number of retail thefts recently at that store. The officer observed Brown walking eastbound towards Victory Circle through the parking lot of Walgreens. When stopped, Brown immediately began to state that he was sorry, according to police.

Chiedu H. Nwaokai, 22, 3442 Western Ave., Park Forest, was arrested on December 16 and charged with criminal damage to property when police responded to the 3400 block of Western Avenue to investigate a report of criminal damage to property.

Police were dispatched to CVS Pharmacy on December 16 to investigate a report of theft. The complainant said that she entered the store and took a grocery card. She then placed her purse in the cards basket and proceeded to enter the store from the vestibule. Just before entering the store, a male subject walked behind her, reached over her shoulder and grabbed her purse, according to police. The male subject then fled the store, running toward Court G-2. Police have suspect information and continue to investigate.

Jeremy D. Stewart, 17, 3613 211th Pl., Matteson, was arrested on December 16 and charged with one felony count of burglary when police were dispatched to the 100 block of Chestnut Street to investigate a report of suspicious persons. Two juveniles were also charged with burglary in connection with this report.

Police were dispatched to the 300 block of Neola Street on December 17 to investigate a report of harassing phone calls. Police continue to investigate.

A Kenmore “Elite” series washer and dryer and a dining set were reported stolen from a storage unit at U-Haul, 18 North Street, on December 17.

Police were dispatched to the Park Forest Police Department on December 17 to investigate a report of fraud. The complainant said that he discovered that his debit card was missing from his wallet. He contacted his bank and learned that his checking account showed a negative balance when it should have showed a positive balance.

Police were dispatched to a business in the 100 block of South Orchard Drive to investigate a report of retail theft. A male subject allegedly stole a package of "Grandmas" cookies, retail value one dollar.

An unknown subject or subjects ripped a window screen and damaged a screen frame of a door of a house in the 200 block of Lee Street on December 17. According to police, the frame of the door also had pry marks as if someone was attempting to gain entry.

A Samsung flat-screen 50-inch LCD television, valued at $700, was reported stolen from a residence in the 200 block of Indianwood Boulevard on December 17.

Officer Kessler and K-9 unit “Toby” were requested by the Crete Police Department to conduct a K-9 track for a male subject who had allegedly burglarized a vacant residence and left the area on foot. Officer Kessler deployed Toby and gave him the command to track. K-9 Toby began the track at the suspect’s vehicle and tracked east toward Independence from Parliament. The track continued south on Independence and turned west, then continued southwest through a wooded area, then south toward Exchange Street. The track eventually led to a grassy area where a male suspect, James F. Woods, 25, 3110 Miller Ave., South Chicago Heights, was taken into custody without incident. Toby is certified through the North American Police Dog Association.

Terrance L. Johnson, 30, 267 W. Hickory St., Chicago Heights, was arrested on December 17 and charged with DUI, one felony count of aggravated DUI, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of cannabis, improper lane usage, illegal transportation of open alcohol, driving without insurance, and driving while license suspended. Police observed the vehicle Johnson was driving southbound on Western Avenue approaching Dogwood Street swerving in its lane, according to police. A passenger in the vehicle, Anthony E. Vinson, 25, 1502 Scott Ave., Chicago Heights, was arrested and charged with illegal transportation of open alcohol, according to police.

An Apple iMac laptop computer, valued at $1500, a compact desktop computer and monitor, valued at $700, and a Toshiba 42-inch flat-screen television, valued at $1000, were reported stolen from a residence in the 3300 block of Western Avenue on December 18. Police have suspect information.


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