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Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)— Officers arrested a Homewook man twice in one evening after he allegedly entered someone else’s vehicle twice. The second time, police allege they found the man inside the car. He refused to get out, police said. “You’re going to have to fight me,” he allegedly told them.
Police removed him from the vehicle after a struggle.
Park Forest Police Blotter Reports Beginning December 21, 2025
Aggravated Assault
Police arrested Ashley Johnson, 29, of the 100 block of N. Arbor Trl., Park Forest, on December 21 and charged her with aggravated assault when police responded to the 100 block of N. Arbor Trl. to investigate a complaint of a person with a firearm. Ms. Johnson did not have a firearm, according to police. She alleged that a man who was present had a firearm, according to police.
Police took the man into custody and searched his person with negative results. The man told police he “literally took her knife from her,” according to the report. Police found Ms. Johnson sitting on her porch. The man alleged that he and Ms. Johnson engaged in a verbal disagreement during which Ms. Johnson pulled a knife and pepper spray on him, according to police. Police found no firearm, but they did find the knife and pepper spray, police said.
Criminal Trespass to a Vehicle
Police arrested Kyland A. Johnson, 31, of the 18000 block of Los Angeles Ave., Homewood, on December 23 and charged him with criminal trespass to a vehicle and resisting a police officer. Mr. Johnson has a preliminary court date of March 3, 2026, at the Markham Courthouse.
Police responded to the 100 block of Main Street at 6:51 PM to investigate a report of a disturbance. The complainant alleged that Mr. Johnson entered her vehicle without her permission, then went under the hood and did something to it, according to police.
Criminal Damage to Property
Police arrested Kyland A. Johnson, 31, of the 18000 block of Los Angeles Ave., Homewood, on December 23 and charged him with criminal damage to property, trespass to real property, and resisting a peace officer. Mr. Johnson has a preliminary court date of March 3, 2026, at the Markham courthouse regarding these charges.
Police responded to the 100 block of Main Street at 9:54 PM to investigate a report of criminal damage to property. While they were en route, SouthCom Dispatch told officers that Mr. Johnson had returned to the 100 block of Main Street and had attempted to enter the same vehicle involved in the previous incident that night.
The complainant alleged that, when she was about to leave for work, she saw Mr. Johnson by her vehicle. She then called the police and went inside to wait for officers. Police found Mr. Johnson lying down in the passenger seat of the complainant’s car, according to police.
“You’re Going to Have to Fight Me,” Police Report Man Said.
Mr. Johnson allegedly told police he would not leave the vehicle willingly, police said. He allegedly said officers could “come on in whenever you’re ready,” and “you’re going to have to fight me,” according to police. Mr. Johnson began removing articles of clothing from himself while punching the air, according to police.
While backup responded, the arresting officer instructed Mr. Johnson to exit the car. He allegedly refused, insisting that he wanted to fight, police said. He then allegedly grabbed a large brick from near his feet. The officer tried to open the driver’s side door, advising Mr. Johnson that he was under arrest and the officer would tase him if he did not comply. Instead, Mr. Johnson allegedly refused to open the door and kept locking it after police unlocked it with the owner’s keys.
The man then allegedly threw the brick at the front windshield. He next reportedly began ripping the gear shifter from the vehicle.
Mr. Johnson exited the vehicle from the passenger side. The officer then informed him he would tase him, informing Mr. Johnson that he was arresting him. At this point, the officer pointed his Taser at Mr. Johnson, ordering him again to comply and to get on the ground. Mr. Johnson allegedly refused. The officer fired his Taser twice at the man. According to the report, due to the man’s loose-fitting clothing and “extreme intoxication and extreme delirium,” the probes made contact but did not work effectively.
In the end, it took three officers to subdue Mr. Johnson and put him in cuffs. All the while, Mr. Johnson kept saying, “I’m not getting on the ground,” according to the report.
Aggravated Speeding
Police arrested Lionel D. James Jr., 30, of the 300 block of Lakewood Blvd., Park Forest, on December 28 and charged him with aggravated speeding, driving while his license was suspended, resisting arrest, and failure to wear a seatbelt.
An officer was parked at the intersection of Lincoln Highway and Indiana Street conducting radar speed enforcement when he saw a black SUV heading eastbound at a very high rate of speed. According to the officer’s radar, the SUV was traveling at 81 miles per hour, where the posted speed limit was 40 mph. It was 3:19 AM.
The officer put his squad into Drive and drove onto Lincoln Highway, which took about 10 seconds. He saw the SUV brake hard and turn right onto Orchard Drive southbound. The officer caught up to the vehicle and ran its registration, which identified it as a black 2018 BMW X5. He curbed the BMW on Orchard Drive at Illinois Street.
Approaching the SUV, the officer spoke with the driver, Lionel D. James Jr., who was not wearing a seatbelt, according to police. The officer later discovered that the seatbelt was plugged in behind the driver’s back, police said. Asked why he was driving so fast, Mr. James allegedly said he was trying to get home, according to police. The officer discovered that Mr. James had a suspended driver’s license.
DUI Drugs
Police arrested Elijah J. Ray, 23, of the 1400 block of Wayne Dr., Crete, on December 28 and charged him with driving while under the influence of drugs, possession of cannabis, improper lane usage, failure by a driver to wear a seatbelt, and driving with a suspended license. Mr. Ray has an initial court date of March 3, 2026.
An officer patrolling at 9:22 PM heading eastbound on Sauk Trail found himself next to a 2010 Volkswagen. The Volkswagen allegedly drifted into the officer’s lane, forcing the officer to drive into the center lane and onto the median turning lane, according to police. The officer slowed and saw the vehicle drift over the center lane into the officer’s lane, according to police. He curbed the vehicle at the intersection of Sauk Trail and Orchard Drive. Elijah J. Ray was the driver, police said.
Asked why he was driving in multiple lanes, Mr. Ray allegedly said that he did not notice the officer’s vehicle next to him. According to the report, Mr. Ray had read, glassy eyes, slow movements and speech, and there was a strong odor of burnt cannabis emanating from the vehicle, according to police.
The officer discovered that Mr. Ray had a suspended driver’s license. He took Mr. Ray into custody on suspicion of driving with a suspended license. While being transported to the Park Forest Police Department, a distance of about two blocks, Mr. Ray appeared to have difficulty keeping his eyes open and would close them as if he were falling asleep, according to police. He then shook his head for a bit before closing his eyes again, police said. At the station, the officer conducted Standardized Field Sobriety Tests with Mr. Ray. After the tests, the officer charged him.
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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.
