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.
We would like to thank Barbara Gallagher for assistance editing and proofreading this article.
Persons wishing to leave anonymous information on any criminal matters including narcotics or gang activity are encouraged to call 708-748-4701.
Julian A. Thornton, 23, 22201 Belmont Rd., Richton Park, was arrested on December 25 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence, reckless driving, improper lane usage, and expired registration when he was arrested at the intersection of Sauk Trail and Western Avenue after police initiated a traffic stop. According to police, through a hospital blood draw, it was learned that Thornton’s blood alcohol level was 283.6 mg/dl, which translates to a Breath Alcohol Count of .33, according to police.
A tax software program valued at $58 was reported stolen from outside a residence in the first block of Cunningham Lane on January 17. The resident reported receiving a text message confirmation that the item had been delivered to her residence.
Darrius D. Gilbert, 20, 402 N. Orchard Dr., Park Forest, was arrested on January 19 and charged with illegal transportation of alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol (>0.08), driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without headlights when required, and improper lane usage. An officer traveling southbound in the left-hand lane of Western Avenue approaching the southern intersection at Dogwood Street observed the vehicle Gilbert was driving northbound on Western Avenue had neither of the headlights illuminated, according to police. According to police, Gilbert chose to provide a breath sample which yielded a BAC reading of .118.
Marcus J. Mitchell, 27, 344 Nassau St., Park Forest was arrested on January 21 when the Matteson Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle Mitchell was driving. Members of the Park Forest Police Department advised the Matteson Police Department that there was probable cause to arrest the owner, Marcus J. Mitchell, because he was allegedly driving the suspect vehicle in a hit and run incident at the intersection of Steger Road and Western Avenue on November 18, 2015. Police charged Mitchell with leaving the scene of an accident.
An officer was dispatched to the Park Forest Police Department on January 21 to speak with a resident in reference to an identity theft complaint. The resident told police he received a notice in the mail from the State of California tax division that he was delinquent on unpaid state taxes from the year 2010 in the amount of $516. With late fees, interest, and an additional collection fee, the total was $948.61. The resident told police that he had lived in Park Forest for the last eight years and has resided in the state of Illinois for his entire life. He told police that he had never been to California.
Melissa C. Griffith, 28, 28845 S. Klemme Rd., Beecher, was arrested on January 26 and charged with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, improper lane usage, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and speeding (65 mph in a 35 mph zone) when an officer observed the vehicle Griffith was driving traveling northbound on Western Avenue at what appeared to be a high rate of speed, according to police. The officer activated the in-car mounted radar which showed the vehicle was traveling at 65 mph in a 35 mph zone, according to police.
On January 26 at approximately 7:05 AM an officer observed a for sale sign in the 200 block of Hickory Street that had the letters “TNT” spray-painted in black on it. The Real Estate agent was advised.