Local Police Reports, Park Forest

Park Forest Police Blotter Reports Through March 12, 2018


Police Chief, Christopher Mannino, Tim Jones, TimStrong, street dedication, police, pfpd
Police Chief Chris Mannino warms his hands on a Village vehicle at the Street Dedication for Officer Tim Jones in March 2018. (Photo: Gary Kopycinski)

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.

We are reporting this information because the public in the United States has the right to know, unlike any other nation in the world.  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 Forestrespond to thousands of calls per year.  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 acknowledgement by the public.

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.

Possession of a Controlled Substance

Max A. Potthoff, 26, 269 Rich Road, Park Forest, was arrested on March 8 and charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance and processed on a Park Forest arrest warrant charging driving while license was suspended – failure to appear. An officer on patrol observed a vehicle traveling westbound on Rich Road at Westwood Drive. According to the report, “the officer immediately identified the passenger of the vehicle as Max A. Potthoff from a prior law enforcement encounter” where Mr. Potthoff was stopped and arrested by the officer on a charge of driving while license was suspended. The officer also knew that Mr. Potthoff had a Park Forest arrest warrant, according to police.

The officer curbed the vehicle in a Rich East High School parking lot. When police asked Mr. Potthoff If he had anything illegal on his person, he responded, “I don’t know. I think there’s a little bag of something in that pocket right there, according to police. Police searched him and located a knotted clear plastic baggie containing a white powdery substance, suspect cocaine. Police also discovered $1100 cash on Mr. Potthoff’s person.

The driver of the vehicle had an acquired Illinois driver’s license, but police did not cite her; instead, they provided her a ride home with her two children, who were also in the vehicle.

An officer field-tested a small portion of the recovered white powder which tested positive for the presumptive presence of cocaine, according to police.

Leaving The Scene Of An Accident

Andrew D. Menias, 36, 326 Miami St., Park Forest, was arrested on March 8 and charged with leaving the scene of an accident, driving on a revoked license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and expired registration. An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of Lakewood Boulevard at approximately 6 PM in reference to a report of a traffic accident. Dispatch advised that a witness to the accident related that a man was leaving the scene of the accident westbound on Lakewood Boulevard after cleaning out his car, according to police.

When the responding officer arrived, he observed a vehicle facing westbound in the 500 block of Lakewood Boulevard. The vehicle was unoccupied, had heavy front end damage, and was in front of a light pole. A second vehicle also had front end damage and was on the easement facing westbound adjacent to the light pole, according to police.

A Detective told the responding officer that he was following a subject matching the description of the man who allegedly left the scene of the accident. That man, later identified as Andrew D. Menias, was walking on the sidewalk at the intersection of Lakewood Boulevard and Wildwood Drive.

The detective stopped Mr. Menias and asked him what he was doing. Mr. Menias says that he was driving west on Lakewood Boulevard and a dog suddenly jumped out in front of him on the road. He told the officer he turned his steering wheel to avoid hitting the dog and hit the streetlight. He said that he left the accident because he wanted to walk home to tell his wife about the accident because his cellular phone was dead, according to police.

After police provided Mr. Menias with a ride back to the scene of the accident, Mr. Menias told police that he was unable to find his wallet and did not have insurance for his vehicle which he said he bought a week ago, according to police. The officer conducted a LEADS inquiry and discovered that Mr. Menias’s driving privileges were revoked. His vehicle was towed from the scene and seized per local ordinance.

DUI

Ronel L. Dixon, 25, 2113 221st St., Sauk Village, was arrested on March 10 and charged with DUI – alcohol over .08, DUI alcohol, speeding over the posted limit, improper lane usage, and no proof of valid insurance.

An officer responded to the area of Western Avenue and Steger Road at 12:44 AM to investigate a report of a reckless driver. The officer observed a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle traveling westbound on Sauk Trail approaching Indianwood Boulevard. The officer paced the vehicle and observed the vehicle to be traveling at approximately 52 miles per hour, according to police. As the officer followed the vehicle, the vehicle swerved from right to left and back again several times within the traffic lane “as if the driver was over correcting his previous maneuver,” according to the report. At one point, the vehicle crossed over traffic lane and then made a large correction to the left, almost striking a raised traffic median at Sauk Trail and Central Park Avenue, according to police. The officer activated his emergency lights and the vehicle stopped in the middle of the street near Richton Square Road, in the left turn lane, according to police. At the station, Dixon’s breath alcohol content was .12, according to police.

Domestic Battery

Sherrod M. Dillon, 30, 2225 S. 25th Ave. #1E, Broadview, IL,, was arrested on March 11 and charged with domestic battery after police responded to Advocate South Suburban Hospital, 17800 Kedzie Avenue, Hazel Crest, at 3:26 AM to investigate a reported domestic battery incident that occurred outside the Sapphire Lounge, 300 Victory Drive, Park Forest. Both Sherrod M. Dillon and the reported victim entered the emergency room for treatment at approximately 1 AM. Both subjects were admitted into the hospital. Hospital staff later learned that their injuries occurred at the Sapphire Lounge in Park Forest and they contacted the police.

According to police, Mr. Dillon got into an argument with the female victim at the Sapphire Lounge. The female victim went to her vehicle to leave and Mr. Dillon came to retrieve some belongings that he had in the vehicle, according to police. He entered the passenger side of the vehicle and the two continued to argue. Mr. Dillon allegedly punched the female victim in the face approximately three times and took the keys for the vehicle out of the ignition. The woman remained in the vehicle crying, according to police. She grabbed a small black pocket knife that she keeps in her vehicle, opened it, and held it in her hand.

Mr. Dillon returned to the vehicle a short time later, entered the vehicle and allegedly began to attack the woman. She told police she lifted her leg up and pushed her foot against Mr. Dillon’s body to prevent him from beating her, according to police. Mr. Dillon allegedly started to throw punches over her leg toward her face. She stuck the knife out and cut Mr. Dillon’s hand and four head, according to police. Mr. Dillon still did not get off of her so she jabbed Mr. Dillon with the knife a couple of times in the arm and shoulder until he got off of her, according to police. She told police that she did not want to seriously hurt Mr. Dillon, but just wanted him to get off of her.

Possession of Cannabis, Soliciting Without A Permit

Jamare J. Slaughter, 22, 8807 S. 79th St. #15, Hickory Hills, IL, was issued a parking citation and two other citations citations on March 12 charging possession of cannabis and soliciting without a permit when an officer on patrol in the area of Winnebago Street and Washington Street observed a vehicle parked along the south curb of Winnebago Street facing east bound. Signs posted on Winnebago Street prohibit parking along the south side of Winnebago Street, according to police. The officer examined the vehicle and observed a sandwich style plastic baggie on top of the center armrest which contained a greenish plant like material that resembled cannabis, according to police. While writing the parking citation, a man, later identified as Jamare J. Slaughter, approached the vehicle. He told the officer he was in the neighborhood conducting business on behalf of Resident’s Energy as a salesperson. Mr. Slaughter told the officer that the vehicle and the cannabis in the car belonged to his aunt. Mr. Slaughter showed the officer a Resident’s Energy identification card which displayed a photo of Slaughter but a different name beneath the photo. Mr. Slaughter related that it was a temporary ID card issued to him by the company. The officer retained the ID card since it appeared to be fictitious, according to police. Mr. Slaughter did not have or apply for a permit to solicit services, according to police. Mr. Slaughter was released on scene.

Driving While License Was Suspended

Alexander S. Cocroft, 25, 4852 Turner Ct., Country Club Hills, was arrested on March 12 and charged with no front plate, driving while license was suspended, and issued municipal citations charging possession of cannabis and obstructing identification.

An officer on duty at 4:40 PM observed a vehicle traveling southbound on Cunningham Drive that had no front mounted registration plate, according to police. When the officer conducted a LEADS inquiry, he learned that the vehicle returned to an “Alexader Cocroft,” and that Mr. Cocroft had two arrest warrants. While waiting for the LEADS information to return, the officer observed a man exit the vehicle and go into a store. When the man came out of the store, he provided the officer with the name of “David R. Cocroft,” according to police. The man seemed hesitant as to what his middle name was, according to police. After comparing mugshots of recent arrests, police confirmed that “Alexander Cocroft” was in custody.

Police learned that Mr. Cocroft’s driver’s license had been suspended since April 4, 2016, because he allegedly failed to pay parking violations. He was placed into a cell while an officer confirmed his Country Club Hills warrant. That warrant had a bond set at $10,000, according to police. Mr. Cocroft was released from custody after posting the required bond amount for the Park Forest Police Department charges.

However, Mr. Cocroft was then transported to the Country Club Hills Police Department when he was unable to post the required bond for that warrant, according to police.

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