Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Editor’s Note: These police reports represent incidents through December 4, 2018. Charges for those cited in this time period include incidences alleging of domestic battery, possession of cannabis, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
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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 Department Investigations 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.
Domestic Battery
Donya K. Scruggs, 20, 408 Normal Ave., Chicago Heights, was arrested on November 28 and charged with one count of domestic battery after police responded to the first block of Apache Street in reference to a report of a disturbance. According to police, Ms. Scruggs allegedly punched someone in the right eye causing the eye to bruise.
Domestic Battery
No Arrest: Possession of Cannabis
Kalisha M. Broughton, 23, 4801 S. Wabash Ave. #2, Chicago, was issued municipal citations charging expired registration and possession of cannabis after officers positioned in a parking lot in the 2500 block of Western Avenue observed a red Chevrolet Impala traveling east on 26th Street toward Western Avenue that had no rear registration light, according to police.
Officers followed the vehicle and conducted a LEADS inquiry and learned that the registration of the vehicle expired in April 2018. Officers activated their emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop on Western Avenue at the Citgo Gas Station, 2035 Western Avenue.
The driver, Kalisha M. Broughton, allegedly had a plastic sandwich bag containing suspect cannabis, according to police. Her vehicle was towed from the scene. Ms. Broughton was provided copies of the tow sheet and impound notice while on scene and was subsequently released without arrest.
Domestic Battery, Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Melvin C. Kennedy, 46, 505 Dixie Highway #3B, Chicago Heights, was arrested on December 3 and charged with one count of domestic battery and one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after police responded to the 200
When police arrived, they observed a man standing in the driveway who was later identified as Melvin C. Kennedy. According to police, Mr. Kennedy said that he and a woman were arguing about derogatory names he was calling her grandchild earlier in the evening. Mr. Kennedy stated that while arguing with her in the bedroom, she stepped towards him and he then allegedly shoved her backward, causing her to fall onto the bed, according to the report.
Police interviewed the woman who stated that Mr. Kennedy wanted to leave for the evening to go get “high” but she did not want him driving since he was intoxicated, according to the report.
The woman stated that Mr. Kennedy became aggressive when she refused to give him his car keys and he allegedly shoved her onto the bed but she was still able to get up and push him away from her. She said her son then entered the room and allegedly punched Mr. Kennedy so he would not attack her any further.
She said she left to go to the bank to get money an account she shared with Mr. Kennedy so if Mr. Kennedy did leave he would not be able to take the rent money with him, according to police.
She said that when she returned home, Mr. Kennedy approached her from the garage as she stepped out of her son’s vehicle.
He then allegedly brandished a large knife that she recognized to be from her kitchen, according to police.
She stated that Mr. Kennedy demanded that she hand over his car keys as he allegedly held the knife in a threatening manner. She stated that she was going to call the police at which point Mr. Kennedy walked away from her and entered the garage, according to police.
Officers recovered a large kitchen knife approximately 12 inches in length from a shelf in the garage. The woman identified the recovered knife as the knife Mr. Kennedy allegedly brandished, according to police.
