Law and Order, Local Police Reports, Park Forest

Panic Alarm and Alleged Domestic Battery: Park Forest Police Reports through March 26, 2019


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Police have your back, this one at the Officer Tim Jones Street Dedication, March 19, 2018. (Photo: Gary Kopycinski)(

Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- These police reports include arrests through March 26, 2019. Charges for those arrested include domestic battery, possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, aggravated speeding, and misdemeanor speeding. There was also a situation where no arrests were made but a vehicle was administratively seized. The alleged domestic battery was captured on in-home surveillance after the alleged victim pressed a panic alarm.

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.

Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Deliver

Marlon L. Lacy, 33, 18024 S. Kedzie Ave., Hazel Crest, was arrested on March 20 and charged with disobeying a stop sign, possession of cannabis, possession of cannabis with the intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, and obstructing identification. Mr. Lacy’s vehicle and $245.36 cash, which he had on his person, was held pending asset forfeiture per the Drug Asset Forfeiture Protection Act, according to police.

At approximately 7:20 PM, an officer observed a gray Chevrolet Camaro traveling south on Blackhawk Drive that allegedly failed to stop prior to a stop sign posted at the intersection of Blackhawk Drive and Shabbona Drive. The officer activated the emergency lighting on his patrol vehicle and curbed the car just south of the intersection on Shabbona Drive.

Upon approaching the vehicle on the passenger side, and even before reaching the vehicle, according to the report, the officer detected a strong odor of fresh cannabis emanating from the car.

Upon reaching the passenger side of the vehicle, the officer observed the driver and vehicle owner, later identified as Marlon Lacy, quickly grab something from the center console while looking over his left shoulder. The officer introduced himself and Mr. Lacy was startled as it appeared he expected the officer to approach on the driver’s side.

“Oh damn,” Mr. Lacy said, according to the report, turning his head towards the officer and immediately throwing an unknown item to the left side of the driver’s seat, according to police.

Mr. Lacy then informed the officer that his passenger window did not roll down. The officer requested Mr. Lacy’s driver’s license and insurance. Mr. Lacy was able to provide his insurance but stated that he did not have any form of identification on him. Mr. Lacy further stated that he was nervous because he was trying to get to a friend’s house on “Newvo Street” to drop off some soda, according to the report. The officer informed Mr. Lacy that there was no street in Park Forest by the name of “Newvo” but rather “Nauvoo.”

Mr. Lacy then allegedly provided the officer with the name of Maurion A. Lacy along with a date of birth.

Mr. Lacy allegedly told the officer that the vehicle he was driving belonged to his brother. The officer asked Mr. Lacy what the address was on his driver’s license but Mr. Lacy allegedly was unable to recall the exact address, stating that it was on Glenwood Dyer Road in Glenwood, Illinois, according to police.

According to the report, Mr. Lacy was “profusely sweating” while speaking with the officer and appeared very nervous. The officer asked Mr. Lacy if he had any cannabis in the vehicle and Mr. Lacy replied that he did not. \

Another officer arrived on the scene to assist. The first officer asked Mr. Lacy to exit the vehicle and Mr. Lacy complied.

While conducting a search of Mr. Lacy’s person, the officer found a prescription bottle in Mr. Lacy’s right hoodie pocket prescribed to “Marlon Lacy.” Based on a suspicion that Mr. Lacy was providing a false name, Mr. Lacy was informed that he was going to be detained and placed in handcuffs.

The officer conducted a LEADS inquiry and learned that “Maurion Lacy” had a valid driver’s license.

Inside the vehicle, police found a large glass Mason jar containing a small amount of cannabis residue. They also found a black digital scale located inside the armrest of the vehicle containing suspected cannabis residue on its surface and a small clear plastic baggie containing a green leafy substance, suspect cannabis, underneath the passenger seat. An officer then employed K9 Partner Tucker into the vehicle to screen for illegal drug odor. K9 Tucker alerted on the passenger seat of the vehicle. An officer subsequently located a white metal container containing a plastic baggie of a green leafy substance and additional green leafy substance underneath the baggie, both suspected cannabis, behind the passenger seat. The officer also located a package of clear plastic bags sandwich bags indicative of the sale of cannabis, according to police.

The officer also found a bottle of “Black Gold” premium car freshener in the driver’s side door jam. The officer believed that this was the item Mr. Lacy threw down once speaking with the officer. The officer suspected the bottled car fresheners was intended to “cover up” odors, according to the report. According to police, narcotic dealers allegedly use car fresheners to attempt to conceal the odor of narcotics within their vehicle.

At the Park Forest Police Department, and the arresting officer conducted a LEADS SOS image search and discovered that Mr. Lacy allegedly had provided his brother’s identification.

An officer inventoried Mr. Lacy’s property at the station which included a large wad of cash of various denominations located in Mr. Lacy’s pocket totaling $245.36. The officer suspected that the large amount of currency in various denominations was consistent with the street sale of illegal narcotics, according to police.

Later, during an interview, Mr. Lacy provided his real name and date of birth to the officer but could not provide an explanation as to why he allegedly furnished his brother’s name.

Aggravated Speeding, Driving While License Suspended

Jason J. Long, 35, 133 Warwick St., Park Forest, was arrested on March 23 and charged with improper lane use, expired registration, aggravated speeding, no insurance, and driving while license was suspended. He was assigned a mandatory court date of May 1, 2019, at the Will County Courthouse in Joliet. He was also processed on an outstanding Cook County warrant and assigned a court date of April 15, 2019, at the Markham Courthouse.

An officer was stationary in a parking lot located at Western Avenue and Fir Street when he observed two vehicles traveling southbound on Western Avenue at what appeared to be a high rate of speed, according to police. The officer exited the parking lot and follow the two vehicles.

Both vehicles stopped at the red light at Western Avenue and Sauk Trail where the officer was then able to closely follow behind.

At this point, according to police, the vehicle in the left lane, a white 2001 Mercedes-Benz SL 500 with Wisconsin registration allegedly accelerated more quickly than the other vehicle in the right lane. After passing Steger Road, the Mercedes allegedly weaved over the solid line to the left then crossed onto the dotted lines to the left for the turn lane into Aunt Martha’s Youth Services, where it was allegedly traveling approximately 60 miles per hour in the conversion area from the 40 to 45 miles per hour speed limit, according to police.

Just after passing Sycamore Drive, the Mercedes allegedly accelerated quickly and then braked twice.

The officer paced the Mercedes and had his in-car mounted radar activated which indicated that the Mercedes was allegedly traveling as high as 76 miles per hour in the posted 45 miles per hour zone.

Near the entrance to Agrati (formerly Continental Midland), the Mercedes allegedly again weaved over the solid line to the left. The officer initiated a traffic stop and the Mercedes stopped at Western Avenue and Valley View Lane.

Another officer responded to assist.

The officer who initiated the traffic stop made contact with the driver and lone occupant of the vehicle, later identified as Jason Long. Mr. Long appeared to have red eyes and slow, deliberate movements. He provided the officer with a state identification card but stated that Wisconsin does not require insurance. The officer learned that Mr. Long had a suspended license because of a DUI and for financial reasons and that he had an active conditional release violation warrant out of Cook County.

He was taken into custody and transported to the Park Forest Police Department. His vehicle was seized and towed under a local ordinance. Upon arrival at the station, Mr. Long allegedly was argumentative and became uncooperative in the booking procedure, according to police.

Domestic Battery

Jateris M. Bethley, 20, 219 Morgan St., Chicago Heights, was arrested on March 23 and charged with one count of domestic battery after police were dispatched to the 200 block of Early Street at 2:42 PM to investigate a domestic report.

The complainant said that she wanted her daughter’s boyfriend removed from the residence and that the boyfriend had allegedly put his hands on her.

When police arrived, they saw a man, later identified as Jateris M. Bethley, walking out the front door of the residence towards the end of the driveway. An officer spoke with Mr. Bethley who told police that he and his girlfriend were inside the residence engaged in a verbal argument but nothing physical occurred, according to police. Mr. Bethley told police that she left the residence but he refused to leave because his brother was previously shot in Park Forest and he feared to be outside in the neighborhood, according to police.

He said that his girlfriend’s finger got caught in the door causing her to bruise her fingers on her left hand. She then contacted her mother to tell Mr. Bethley to leave but he allegedly told police that he said he would leave when his ride came to pick him up.

Police then interviewed a woman who said she was inside the residence having a verbal argument with Mr. Bethley that led to a physical altercation, according to the report. She told police that Mr. Bethley allegedly choked her using his two hands by placing them around her neck and pushing her from the front door to a rear bedroom door, according to police. Mr. Bethley allegedly pushed her several more times on her chest using open hands and allegedly struck her with a closed fist causing bruises to her left fingers, according to police.

Police spoke with a woman who received an alarm notification on her mobile device while at work at 2:21 PM alerting her of the activation of a panic alarm inside her residence, according to police. The woman checked the interior video surveillance and, during a video of the activated alarm, she observed Mr. Bethley allegedly choking the alleged victim at the front door of the residence and pushing her to the rear bedroom of the residence. At that point, the woman left work and returned to the residence.

The woman presented the officers with recorded video surveillance of the incident, according to police.

\Police placed Mr. Bethley under arrest and transported him to the Park Forest Police Department where he was processed on one count of domestic battery and held pending transportation to Markham Courthouse, according to police.

Possession of Cannabis: No Arrest

Doron D. Fleming, 28, 263 Lester Rd., Park Forest, was issued a municipal citation on March 26 charging possession of cannabis after an officer traveling northbound on Western Avenue near Elm Street at 8:58 PM observed a black sedan traveling southbound on Western Avenue with the vehicle’s high beams illuminated, according to police.

Police found one ziplock cigar bag containing two small plastic baggies containing a green leafy substance, suspect cannabis, inside the vehicle. Mr. Fleming allegedly admitted ownership of the cannabis, according to police.

The driver of the vehicle, Brandon D. Stewart, 22, 151 Main St. #421, Park Forest, was issued a municipal citation charging improper vehicle lighting. Mr. Stewart’s vehicle was towed from the scene and seized. Mr. Fleming was released at the scene. Police provided Mr. Stewart a ride home after providing him the necessary paperwork to retrieve his vehicle.

There were no arrests.

Misdemeanor Speeding

Zachary J. Rinken, 20, 1712 S. Dixie Highway Trlr. 112, Crete, was arrested on March 26 and charged with misdemeanor speeding 26 miles per hour or more above the posted limit when an officer conducting stationary radar traffic enforcement in the area of Western Avenue and Dogwood Street observed a Nissan Versa traveling northbound on Western Avenue at 62 miles per hour, according to the squad car dash-mounted radar, police said in the report.

The speed limit on Western Avenue is 35 miles per hour.

Mr. Rinken was also issued a municipal citation charging possession of cannabis with a hearing date of April 25, 2019, at the Park Forest Police Department local courtroom. He was assigned a court date of May 8, 2019, at the Markham Courthouse regarding the misdemeanor speeding charge, according to police.

The officer conducted a traffic stop. Mr. Rinken was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. The officer asked him if he was aware of his speed at which time Mr. Rinken allegedly said, “Yeah, I slowed down.”

Mr. Rinken was escorted from his vehicle and taken into custody regarding the alleged traffic offense. While police inventoried Mr. Rinken’s vehicle they discovered a plastic sandwich bag containing a green plant-like material, suspect cannabis. After being charged, police issued Mr. Rinken an I-Bond and released him on his own recognizance.

Theft

Marqus L. Ridley, 30, 2 Ash St., Park Forest, was arrested on March 26 and charged with theft after police were dispatched to U-Haul, 2210 Western Avenue, Park Forest, regarding a report of theft.

The U-Haul manager related several suspicious refund transactions that allegedly occurred involving employee Marqus Ridley.

The report shows seven transactions totaling $287.66. According to the report, four of the transactions allegedly happened on March 20, 2019; two of the transactions allegedly happened on March 22, 2019; and two transactions allegedly happened on March 24, 2019, according to police.

Several of the transactions were captured on video, according to police. No customers were present at the time and Mr. Ridley was seen on video allegedly sliding a card in the register for the refund.

The manager confronted Mr. Ridley with officers present. Mr. Ridley denied any wrongdoing. The manager related that U-Haul wanted to pursue criminal complaints. At that point, Mr. Ridley was arrested, handcuffed, and transported to the Park Forest Police Department.

At the police station, an officer advised Mr. Ridley of his Miranda Rights. Mr. Ridley again denied any involvement in the matter saying that one time a customer called saying her storage unit credit card was not working when she attempted to pay for storage fees. Mr. Ridley allegedly attempted to activate a new card at the register for the customer, according to police. He told the police this was done on just one occasion, according to the report. Mr. Ridley also said that he purchased some boxes with his debit card approximately three weeks prior, according to police.

Mr. Ridley was assigned a court date of May 8, 2019, at the Markham Courthouse.


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