Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)— Arrest reports from September 11-25, 2017 reveal people processed on warrants, felonies, a DUI, and other charges.
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.
Park Forest Police Blotter Reports for September 11-25, 2017
Warrant, Improper Transportation of Alcohol
Tamika N. Bell, 42, 331 Merrimac St., Park Forest, was arrested on September 13 and charged with improper transportation of alcohol, failure to wear a safety belt, failure to signal, and processed on a warrant on charges relating to traffic offenses. Bell was also issued municipal tickets charging possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia. An officer on patrol observed that the vehicle Bell was driving allegedly failed to signal while traveling westbound on North Street onto southbound Orchard Drive, according to police. While conducting an inventory of the vehicle, police located a small plastic baggie which contained a green leafy substance which later field-tested positive for cannabis, according to the report.
Gambling, Resisting a Peace Officer, Warrant
Jamal J. Cooper, 22, 22223 Carlos Ave., Richton Park, was arrested on September 14 and charged with gambling and resisting a peace officer when an officer patrolling in the area of the Aqua Center observed three subjects who appeared to be throwing dice in the parking lot of that facility. Cooper was also processed on a warrant out of Vermillion County on a charge of aggravated battery.
When the officer who arrived first instructed Cooper to place his hands behind his back, informing him that he was under arrest for the warrant, Cooper allegedly pulled his left arm away and fled West into Central Park, according to police. Other officers arrived, set a perimeter around the area, and placed Cooper under arrest without any further resistance, according to police.
Two other individuals, Jordan P. Taylor, 18, 213 Early St., Park Forest, and Jashaun A. Johnson, 195 Washington St., Park Forest, where issued municipal citations charging gambling.
Possession of Cannabis, Drug Paraphernalia
Ramon Collazo Jr., 20, 222 1/2 N. Broadway Street #7, Joliet, was arrested on September 15 and issued municipal citations charging possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal license plate covers, and a license plate violation. An officer patrolling in the area of Indiana Street and Orchard Drive observed that a vehicle turning westbound onto Indiana Street from Orchard Drive had a black tinted license plate cover on the rear license plate, according to police.
DUI, Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle
Deja B. Jones, 21, 7829 S. Winchester Ave., Chicago, was arrested on September 22 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol (>0.08), driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding 26 to 36 miles per hour over the posted limit, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, not driving on the right side of the road, and improper lane usage.
An officer made a left turn from Sauk Trail to head northbound on Western Avenue and observed a vehicle traveling southbound on Western Avenue in the left-hand lane approaching the intersection at Hemlock Street. The officer utilized the in-car radar which indicated that the vehicle was traveling 67 miles per hour in the posted 35 miles per hour zone, according to police.
The officer conducted a U-turn and proceeded southbound on Western Avenue behind the vehicle, which turned into the right-hand lane, according to police. At the intersection of Western Avenue and Sauk Trail, the vehicle turned right onto Sauk Trail, swerved left, and then made an abnormally wide right turn onto Sauk Trail heading westbound, according to police. The officer observed the vehicle allegedly travel from the right lane into the left lane and proceed to travel over the solid yellow dividing line onto the raised median, according to police.
Domestic Battery
Shandra O. Bibbins, 20, 330 Niagara St., Park Forest, was arrested on September 23 and charged with domestic battery when police responded to the 300 block of Niagara Street to investigate a report of a domestic disturbance.
Felony UUW, Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, Counterfeit Bills
Dietrick L. Banks Jr., 21, 5214 Southwind Dr., Richton Park, was arrested on September 24 and charged with one felony count of unlawful use of a weapon – no FOID/concealed carry (Class 4), and issued a traffic citation charging defective windshield, and illegal use of an electronic communication device. An officer on patrol at approximately 11:36 AM approached the intersection of Sauk Trail and Lakewood Boulevard. The officer pulled alongside a vehicle and, upon looking inside the vehicle, notice that the vehicle had a cracked windshield and that the driver was allegedly using his cell phone (not hands-free), according to police.
A passenger in the vehicle, Malcom J. Qualls, 24, 3205 Enterprise Park Ave., South Chicago Heights, was also arrested and charged with one felony count of possession of a controlled substance (Class 4), and processed on a parole violation warrant from the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Police recovered 14 counterfeit $20 bills from Qualls’ front left pant pocket, and a clear knotted plastic bag containing a green plant material, suspect cannabis, according to the report. Also, inside Qualls’ front right pocket were three multicolored pills, according to police. When asked what they were, Qualls allegedly responded that they were “ecstasy.”
Secret Service agents responded to the Park Forest Police Department regarding the counterfeit $20 bills but decided to not take Banks or Qualls into custody.
While searching the back seat of the vehicle, an officer noticed that the rear seat cushion was loose. The cushion was not fully attached to the base of the seat, according to police. The officer “simply lifted the rear seat cushion,” according to the report, and saw a silver/black handgun. The officer did not lift any levers or mechanisms to lift up the seat cushion, according to police. The officer simply lifted the seat cushion to look underneath it, according to police. The handgun was a Lorcin 9mm (model L9MM), according to police. The gun had one bullet in the chamber and an additional nine bullets in the magazine.
The vehicle was towed from the scene per village ordinance regarding unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of cannabis, according to police. A third person in the vehicle, a teenager, was released without charges.
