Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Finally we reach the end of a very busy week-and-a-half for Park Forest police. In these reports, we detail three more incidents, one involving a business DownTown allegedly selling alcohol without a license. These reports close 2022 and begin our reporting on police reports for 2023.
Remaining Park Forest Police Blotter Reports Through January 1, 2023
No Driver’s License
Dartanzal L. Weatherspoon, 22, 354 Indianwood Blvd., Park Forest, was issued citations charging driver’s license not on person and improper lane usage when officers observed a vehicle on December 29 at 12:38 AM where the driver allegedly failed to maintain proper lane usage.
A passenger in the vehicle, Malik D. Ecford, 22, 4 Elm St., Park Forest, was issued a municipal citation charging possession of cannabis when officers discovered a plastic bag on the rear floorboard of the vehicle that contained a green leafy substance, suspected cannabis, according to police. Mr. Ecford allegedly admitted to officers that the bag belonged to him.
Outstanding Warrant
Shantell Morris, 37, 59 Hemlock St., Park Forest, was arrested on December 29 in connection with an outstanding warrant issued by the Kane County Sheriff’s Department charging failure to appear when police responded on another call investigating criminal damage to property complaint.
The Kane County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the warrant and advised a bond of $2000. Ms. Morris was transported to the Park Forest Police Department and processed. A family member arrived and posted bond and Ms. Morris was released without further incident.
Liquor Dealer’s License Required
Kevin A. Smith, 38, 8526 S. Sangamon St., Chicago, was issued a municipal citation on January 1, 2023, charging liquor dealer’s license required when officers responded to K-Spot Bar and Grill, 311 Main Street, at 1:12 AM to conduct a premise check. Officers were conducting an inspection to ensure that no liquor was being served since the establishment did not have a valid liquor license, according to police.
Officers entered the business through the north entrance door and a detective observed a bottle of Corona beer being served to a patron by a bartender at the bar and another patron walking around with another bottle. There was also a man at the bar drinking alcohol from a bottle of Corona, according to police.
Officers saw between 35 and 40 people inside the establishment and learned that the cover charge was $25 per person. An officer was greeted by a manager and the establishment owner, Kevin Smith. Because of the loud music, Mr. Smith and the officers exited the premise to talk. Officers learned from the manager that sections that night were $100 and tables were $50, according to police.
Outside, officers advised Mr. Smith that they saw alcoholic beverages being served inside without a valid liquor license and that they were going to issue the owner a municipal citation, according to police. Mr. Smith did not deny serving the alcohol and allegedly knew that his license was expired but said he was in the process of renewing it, according to police.
Mr. Smith has a mandatory court date of February 3, 2023, at the Park Forest Police Department.
About Police Reports
Please note that we repeatedly say “according to police” in these reports and often use “allegedly.” We are not asserting that the police officers arrested and charged committed any offenses. We report on the information contained 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 consistently published the names and 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 identification of those arrested.
Presumption of Innocence
An arrest does not mean that a person is guilty. The law presumes that all those arrested by police 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.
According to police, officers captured all the incidents in this report on body-worn and dash-mounted cameras at the respective scenes. All Park Forest police officers wear body-worn cameras. Officials typically abbreviate these devices as BWC in the reports.
We encourage individuals wishing to leave anonymous information regarding any criminal matters, including narcotics or gang activity, to call the Park Forest Police Department’s Investigations Division at (708) 748-1309.
