Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)— Editor’s Note: We continue our reporting on news from police reports. Besides covering the many stories from around Park Forest that otherwise might go unnoticed, we want to bring more complete coverage of police reports than is reported by other local media.
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.
DUI With A BAC Over .08
Christina A. Keys, 40, 22136 Millard Ave., Richton Park, was arrested on February 7 and charged with DUI, DUI with a Breath Alcohol Count over .08 (Ms. Keys’ BAC was .19, according to police), driving too fast for conditions, and improper lane use.
An officer on patrol traveling west on Lakewood Boulevard was approaching the red light at the intersection of Lakewood Boulevard and Orchard Drive at approximately 12:08 AM when he observed a vehicle and to the intersection from Orchard Drive and turn left onto Lakewood Boulevard. As the vehicle turned, it began to spin out in the snow, eventually facing east in the westbound lanes, according to police. The vehicle then performed a wide U-turn in the intersection to travel west, according to police.
Snow was falling and had been falling, according to the report. The roads were exceptionally slick, according to the report. The officer observed that the vehicle appeared to be traveling quickly under conditions. As the vehicle traveled through the 400 block of Lakewood Boulevard, the officer, utilizing the in-car radar, determined that the vehicle was traveling at a speed of 33 miles per hour in the posted 30 miles per hour zone. In that same block, according to police, the vehicle began to fishtail in its lane, then began to spin out to the right, nearly completing a 180 degree turn, leaving the roadway to the right and entering onto a nearby driveway and parkway, according to police. The vehicle narrowly missed hitting a vehicle parked in the driveway, according to police.
The officer activated emergency lights, exited his patrol vehicle, and approached the driver to investigate.
Ms. Keys told police that she had been at a tavern on South Orchard Drive since approximately 8:30 p.m.
Domestic Battery
Jamier R. Griffin, 23, 335 Winnebago St., Park Forest, was arrested on February 10 and charged with domestic battery when police responded to the 300 block of Winnebago Street to investigate a report of a domestic dispute. Mr. Griffin allegedly struck a woman in the face repeatedly with a closed hand, causing her nose to bleed, according to police.
Endangering the Health/Life of a Child
Karladiea L. Clay, 28, 23449 Western Ave. #103, Park Forest, was arrested on February 12 and charged with one misdemeanor count of endangering the health/life of a child and driving under the influence of alcohol when police were dispatched at 12:18 PM to the 23400 block of South Western Avenue to investigate the well-being of a child.
According to police, the complainant was in her apartment when she heard the sound of a child crying. She left her apartment to see what was going on and saw a child standing at the front door to the apartment complex crying. The complainant asked the child if his mother was at home. He shook his head saying that she wasn’t. She then moved the child out of the doorway so he was not in the cold, according to police.
The responding officer observed the child to be visibly upset, wearing only underwear and a T-shirt. The child also had a hospital bracelet on his wrist, according to police. By pointing, the child indicated to the officer where he lived.
The officer looked upstairs and noticed that the door to a unit was wide open. SouthCom dispatch eventually made contact with the resident, Karladiea L. Clay, who said that she was in the complex, on her way to meet with the officers, according to police.
Police observed a vehicle pull into the parking lot. One officer then observed a female subject, later identified as Ms. Clay, run out of her vehicle towards the building. The officer asked her if the child was her son and she replied yes. The officer asked her where she had been. She related that she was getting her mail. However, the officer did not see her vehicle at the mailbox when he pulled into the complex, according to police. He asked her again where she had been, and she related that she was at Walgreens at Route 30 and Governors Highway in Olympia Fields.
While the officer was speaking with her, he smelled the strong odor of alcohol emanating from her breath, according to police. The officer asked if she had had anything to drink. She allegedly told the officer that all she had was wine and that the bottle was inside of her bedroom. She gave consent to the officer to look inside of her bedroom where he observed a 1.5 liter bottle of wine on her bedroom dresser. The bottle was approximately half empty and was missing the cap, according to police.
Ms. Clay was transported to the Park Forest Police Department where she agreed to perform a field sobriety tests at the request of police. Police conacted DCFS.
