Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- There were only three arrests during the last full week of January 2023. However, two of those arrests involved DUI charges. The first of those charged with DUI allegedly resisted arrest, kicking a squad door so hard that it came loose from the squad’s frame.
We will present those reports in separate articles as our treatment of DUIs is one where we publish booking photos and details of arrests in hopes of curtailing others from drinking and driving. Perhaps those alleged in these reports will refrain from repeating as well.
Personally, I can call to mind two people in recent years killed by drunk drivers. One was a man in Crete I knew who was out for a walk on a Sunday afternoon. The other, a student I taught, driving home, sober. Drunk drivers killed both.
Damage to Property
Police issued a municipal citation to Caitlin J. Cantu, 23, 245 Juniper St.., Park Forest, on January 25 charging damage to property when police responded to an address on Juniper Street regarding a call of an unwanted subject. A family member alleged that Caitlin Cantu should not be in the residence and broke into her home, according to police. The complainant said Ms. Cantu was in the process of undergoing eviction. The resident changed the locks of the home.
Ms. Cantu allegedly told police she smashed a window of the front door from its frame, reaching inside to gain entry, according to police. She allegedly told police that was the only way she could gain entry to get the rest of her things, according to police. Ms. Cantu voluntarily came to the Park Forest Police Department to receive the citation, according to the report.
Man Allegedly Kicks Squad Door from its Frame, Charged with DUI
An officer was driving northbound on Western Avenue from Main Street at 10:25 PM when he saw a vehicle traveling southbound on Western Avenue from Elm Street allegedly at a high rate of speed, according to police. Using his squad’s radar, the officer noted that the vehicle, a gray Dodge Journey, was allegedly traveling 67 mph in a 35 mph zone, according to the report.
The officer turned his squad car around and caught up with the Dodge. He had to drive at speeds in excess of 70 mph until he finally caught up to the vehicle, according to police. Activating his squad’s emergency lights, the officer initiated a traffic stop.
The vehicle pulled over on Western Avenue just south of Sauk Trail, according to police.
Approaching the vehicle, the officer met with the driver and sole occupant, later identified as Dushawn Mickey. Mr. Mickey gave the officer his driver’s license and an expired insurance card, according to police. Mr. Mickey was not able to provide the officer with valid proof of insurance, according to the police. He said that he was going to Steger to drop his girl’s car off, according to the report.
The officer conducted a law enforcement inquiry on Mr. Mickey’s driving privileges, learning that he had a valid Commercial Driver’s License, CDL, according to the report. While standing outside the vehicle, the officer allegedly saw a partially empty bottle of liquor on the front passenger side floorboard, according to police.
Two Officers on the Scene
Another officer arrived on the scene to assist.
While speaking with Mr. Mickey, the officer allegedly smelled the odor of alcohol “emanating from his breath as he spoke,” according to the report. The officer asked Mr. Mickey to get out of the vehicle. Since the officer saw a liquor bottle in the vehicle, he searched Mr. Mickey. The officer found no contraband on Mr. Mickey’s person. As the officer got closer to Mr. Mickey, the odor of alcohol grew stronger, according to police. The officer asked Mr. Mickey how much he had had to drink. Mr. Mickey allegedly told the officer that he had a shot of tequila. “As you could see, I got the little thing in there,” Mr. Mickey allegedly said.
Field Sobriety Tests
The officer told Mr. Mickey he was going to run him through some tests. After the Field Sobriety Tests, police told Mr. Mickey to place his hands behind his back, and that he was under arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to police. Mr. Mickey allegedly began to tense his arms right away, according to the report, in an alleged effort to defeat the arrest. As the arresting officer attempted to place Mr. Mickey in the rear of the squad car, Mr. Mickey allegedly pulled away from the officers. Mr. Mickey refused to get inside the squad car, according to police.
The arresting officer unholstered his department-issued Taser, turned it on, and warned Mr. Mickey he would tase him, according to the report. Mr. Mickey allegedly told the officer that he didn’t care. Finally, the two officers were able to push Mr. Mickey inside the squad car, according to police. Once inside the squad car, Mr. Mickey allegedly began to kick the squad car door, according to police. Police allege that Mr. Mickey kicked the door so hard that the arresting officer saw the door move off the frame of the squad car, according to police.
Police photographed the areas where Mr. Mickey allegedly kicked the squad car door, according to police.
At the PFPD
At the Park Forest Police Department, Mr. Mickey allegedly refused to sign the Warning to Motorist, according to police. Mr. Mickey also refused to take a breathalyzer test, according to police.
While in the processing room, Mr. Mickey allegedly “spontaneously stated,” “I smell like f***ing tequila. That vodka in the car. Y’all ass stupid as hell,” according to the report.
Police arrested Dushawn L. Mickey, 33, 235 Berry St., Park Forest, on January 28 and charged with one misdemeanor count of resisting a peace officer, two counts of battery, driving under the influence of alcohol, one count of aggravated speeding, illegal transportation of alcohol, and one count of operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
About Police Reports
Please note that we repeatedly say “according to police” in these reports and often use the word “allegedly.” We are not asserting in any way that those arrested and/or charged have committed any offenses. We report on what is in the media reports furnished by police. As those charged are innocent until proven guilty, the burden is on prosecutors and police to prove all alleged crimes.
eNews Park Forest has always published the 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.
All of the incidents in this report were captured on body-worn and/or dash-mounted cameras by officers at the respective scenes, according to police. All Park Forest police officers wear body-worn cameras. These devices are now typically abbreviated BWC in the reports.
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.
