Local Police Reports

Guns and Alcohol a Bad Mix for Two Charged After Sunday Standoff on Marquette Street


Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Gun shots startled neighbors awake in the 200 block of Marquette Street and other nearby homes on the morning on March 18. Police say it was after a night of drinking that two men decided to fire a gun into the air. The two were charged with felony reckless discharge of a firearm.

At approximately 4:40 AM on March 18, police were dispatched to the 200 block of Mohawk Street to investigate a report of several gunshots fired. Police say they were in the area of Minocqua Street and Minocqua Court when they heard four distinctive gunshots which sounded like they came from a large caliber firearm. A few moments later, SouthCom dispatch advised that a witness in the 200 block of Marquette Street called and reported seeing a subject go into a nearby house after the shots were fired.

When police arrived at the reported address, 233 Marquette Street, they observed, through a window that had no type of window treatment, at least two silhouette-style shooting range targets hanging on a wall inside the residence. One of the officers also observed a man walking toward the window. As the officer’s squad car came into sight, the man, later identified as Edgar Rivera, 28, 367 Winona St., Park Forest, dove to the floor, out of sight of the officers, according to police.

At approximately 5:20 AM, Commander Winfrey was contacted by Cpl. Sheets, the on-duty patrol watch commander, regarding this incident. Sheets informed Winfrey that the alleged offenders were inside the residence, refusing to exit. At this point, police did not know if anyone had been shot, injured, or killed inside the residence, according to police. Commander Winfrey responded to the scene and activated the South Suburban Emergency Response Team (SSERT) to assist with containment while a search warrant was obtained, according to police.

Commander Winfrey prepared a search warrant for the residence, which was approved and signed by a judge at approximately 8:02 AM.

Police say while they were waiting for the warrant, they observed a subject inside the home texting via his cell phone.

Police surrounded the residence, illuminating the exterior using spotlights, and made announcements to the residents to exit. As the sun rose, police were able to determine that items they saw outside the rear door of the residence were in fact shell casings.

At approximately 8:15 AM, police say four subjects exited the residence and were taken into custody by SSERT members. Inside the residence, police located two pit bull puppies and two adult pit bulls. The animals had not received rabies vaccinations and were unlicensed, according to police. The animals were removed and transported to Forest South Animal Hospital for safekeeping.

Police also discovered a Springfield Armory .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. The pistol was loaded with seven live rounds, six in the magazine and one in the chamber, according to police.

Police say a second man who was later charged, Oscar Corral, 29, 1004 Superior St., Aurora, IL, told police that he had been drinking alcoholic beverages heavily and became intoxicated. Police say Edgar Rivera also told them he had been drinking and became intoxicated. Police say Rivera told them that after he had been drinking, he went to his vehicle and brought his gun and bullets into the garage. Rivera then went outside and fired two or three shots into the air, according to police. Corral then went outside, took the gun, and fired approximately four shots into the air, according to police.

Edgar Rivera and Oscar Corral were each charged with felony reckless discharge of a firearm. Two others who had been in the residence, Brittany Durgenski, 23, 233 Marquette St., Park Forest, and Anthony Castro, 29, 233 Marquette St., Park Forest, were both charged with obstructing a peace officer since I did not answer the door, communicate with police, or exit the residence, according to police. In addition, both received disorderly house citations and Dergenski received a citation regarding two unlicensed dogs, according to police.

Related: Park Forest Police Respond To Early Morning Shots Sunday On Marquette Street


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