Law and Order, Local Police Reports, Park Forest

Park Forest Man Charged After Allegedly Spraying Pepper Spray in Woman’s Face


A Park Forest man was arrested after allegedly spraying pepper spray in a woman's face.
The Park Forest Police Department showcased a new 2021 squad car that has an autism awareness wrap. “This new police vehicle will serve as a public reminder of our commitment of service to families of autism,” the PFPD said in a statement. (PFPD)

Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- A Park Forest man was charged with domestic battery after allegedly spraying pepper spray in a woman’s face after she arrived at his home to drop off her child. The woman alleged that the man also sprayed her with a fire extinguisher, pulled her hair, and threatened to kill her, according to police.

Kelvin B. White III, 20, 190 Washington St., Park Forest, was arrested on July 6 and charged with one count of domestic battery after police responded to the area of Winnebago and Washington Streets at 7:30 PM to assist Matteson police.

A woman alleged that she had been battered by Mr. White. When the officer from Park Forest arrived, he saw the woman pacing back and forth. She appeared to be in pain, according to the report. Her eyes were red and swollen shut, according to police.

She told police she had arrived at Mr. White’s address to drop off her child. Mr. White was the father of the child, according to police.

When she exited the vehicle, Mr. White said something to her that she did not hear, according to the report. She laughed it off as she went to grab her son’s diaper bag, according to the report. As she was near the trunk of her vehicle, Mr. White allegedly threw a deflated basketball at her, according to police.

Mr. White then went inside his home, grabbed a fire extinguisher, and allegedly sprayed it on her and her vehicle, according to police. Mr. White then allegedly began pulling her hair which was in long braids, according to police. Mr. White allegedly pulled a few strands of her braids out, according to police.

Shortly after that, the woman alleged that Mr. White took her car keys from her vehicle and allegedly used her pepper spray, which was attached to the keys, spraying pepper spray in her face, according to police.

After being pepper-sprayed, the woman heard what sounded like a vehicle accelerating in her direction so she got out of the street on suspicion that Mr. White was trying to hit her with her car, according to police. During the alleged battery, Mr. White allegedly kept telling her that he was going to kill her, according to police.

She told police that she wanted to press charges against Mr. White on domestic battery, and that was the charge.

Mr. White was eventually placed in a cell at the Park Forest Police Department pending processing and transport to the Markham Court House for a bond hearing, according to police.

About Police Reports

Please note that we repeatedly say “according to police” in these reports and often use “allegedly.” We are not asserting in any way that those police arrested and charged committed any offenses. We report on what is in the reports that the police furnish to us. As those accused are innocent until proven guilty, the burden is on prosecutors and police to prove all alleged crimes.

eNews Park Forest has continuously published the 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 charged, including their name, age, and address. This information is necessary to ensure the proper identity of those arrested.

Presumption of Innocence

An arrest does not mean that a person is guilty. The law presumes all those whom police arrest are innocent until proven guilty. It is the policy of eNews Park Forest not to remove items from the public record from publication. Suppose you find your name in the police reports. Our policy is that 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.

We do not strike, “unpublish,” or delete news.

Police captured all the incidents in this report on body-worn and dash-mounted cameras by officers at the respective scenes, according to police. All Park Forest police officers wear body-worn cameras. Officials typically abbreviate these devices as BWC in the reports.

We encourage persons wishing to leave anonymous information on any criminal matters, including narcotics or gang activity, to call the Park Forest Police Department Investigations Division at (708) 748-1309.


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