Law and Order, Local Police Reports, Park Forest

Battery and More Battery: Park Forest Police Reports Through March 1, 2019


Park Forest Village Board, Tim Jones, #TimStrong
March 19th is Officer Tim Jones Day in Park Forest when the Park Forest community comes together to remember and recognize Tim Jones for his service, heroism, and the inspiration he’s provided to so many with his fight to beat all odds. Park Forest Board members Monday donned shirts to remind Tim Jones that he continues to remain on the minds of the many in the community he served so well. #TimStrong (Photo: VOPF)

Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- These police reports include arrests through the first part of March 1, 2019. Charges for those arrested include battery, driving while license was suspended, and criminal damage to property.

Providing more details than readers will find in any other police beat reports, we invite readers to subscribe to get the whole story, every day.

eNews Park Forest has always published 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.

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.

eNews Park Forest reports this information because the public in the United States has the right to know.  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 Forest respond to thousands of calls per year, the vast majority of which do not end up with arrests.  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 acknowledgment by the public.

Battery

Lunye F. McMurtry, 18, 128 Algonquin St., Park Forest, was issued a municipal citation charging battery on February 26 when a school administrator asked an officer who was present at Rich East High School to investigate a report of a fight between three students.

Two juveniles were also issued municipal citations charging battery. They were all assigned a court date of March 14, 2019, at the Park Forest Police Department.

Battery

Derika R. Richardson, 20, 128 Algonquin St., Park Forest, was arrested on February 26 and charged with one count of battery when police responded to Rich East High School to investigate a report of a fight in the attendance office. Ms. Richardson was assigned a mandatory court appearance of April 2, 2019, at the Markham Courthouse.

According to police, just prior to the arrival of the officers after 10:49 AM, school liaison officers were asked to escort a student to the dean’s office after the juvenile left the in-school suspension room without permission. The juvenile allegedly stated, “You better get the f*ck out of my way. I’ll beat your ass,” to the officers. The school liaison officer then physically detained the juvenile and escorted the juvenile to the dean’s office, instructing the juvenile to be seated in a chair.

During this time, the juvenile allegedly continued to physically resist.

While detaining the juvenile in the dean’s office, Derika Richardson, who was in the attendance office at the time and was a relative of the juvenile, allegedly rushed into the dean’s office and attempted to get between officers while the juvenile was being taken into custody. An officer told Ms. Richardson she was not allowed in the dean’s office. Ms. Richardson then allegedly struck the officer in his chest with her arm trying to get past him, according to police.

Ms. Richardson was eventually taken into custody. The juvenile in turn was issued a municipal citation charging resisting a peace officer.

Driving While License Suspended

Tristen C. Simmons, 27, 5013 Main St., Monee, was arrested on February 26 and issued municipal citations charging with possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia. Mr. Simmons was also issued state citations charging obstructed windshield and driving while license was suspended.

An officer saw a silver 2014 Ford Focus facing east on Monee Road at Western Avenue that had an object hanging from the rearview mirror that appeared to obstruct the driver’s view to the front, according to police.

The vehicle was being driven by a “younger male,” according to the report.

The officer conducted an in-car computer search of the registration number and learned that the vehicle was registered to Tristen C. Simmons, age 27, whose license was listed as suspended, according to police. Mr. Simmons’ license actually had two suspensions in effect, according to police: one on a conviction he received for having no insurance which was effective September 14, 2018, the other regarding financial reasons, effective February 4, 2019.

The officer initiated a traffic stop on Sauk Trail just east of Western Avenue and confirmed that Mr. Simmons was, in fact, the driver.

The officer also smelled a strong odor of cannabis emanating from the vehicle, according to police.

The officer asked Mr. Simmons to exit his vehicle and placed him in handcuffs. Upon searching the vehicle, the officer located a partially smoked hand-rolled cigarette that contained a green leafy substance, suspect cannabis. The officer also recovered a blue Sharp Stone “grinder” from the center console of the vehicle. A grinder is typically used to break down cannabis prior to inhalation, according to police.

The grinder contained a broken down green leafy substance, suspect cannabis, according to police.

Mr. Simmons’ vehicle was towed from the scene and impounded per local ordinance. Mr. Simmons was assigned a court appearance of March 19, 2019 at the Markham Courthouse.

Criminal Damage to Property

Juwuan J. Bolton, 18, 315 Meota St., Park Forest, was arrested on February 27 and charged with two counts of resisting a peace officer and one count of criminal damage to property when police responded to Rich East High School, 300 Sauk Trail, in an attempt to locate Mr. Bolton in reference to an active arrest warrant out of Cook County that had been issued on February 26, 2019.

When police arrived, they learned that Mr. Bolton had been located by Rich East Police Liaison Officers and was currently in the maintenance hallway.

A Detective who responded advised Mr. Bolton that he would be placed in handcuffs and that he was under arrest in connection with the warrant issued on a charge of criminal contempt of court. The detective told Mr. Bolton to place his hands behind his back and Mr. Bolton allegedly replied, “I can’t do that.”

The detective handcuffed Mr. Bolton on his left wrist and told him again to put his hands behind his back. Another detective grabbed Mr. Bolton’s right arm and wrist. Mr. Bolton allegedly began resisting and pulling his arms away from detectives, according to police.

“During the struggle that ensued Bolton was told three additional times to put his hands behind his back,” according to the report, and a body camera clip of one of the detectives cracked causing the body cam to fall to the ground, according to police.

Mr. Bolton was charged and also processed on the warrant. He was held at the Park Forest Police Department pending transportation to Markham Courthouse.

Obstructing Justice, Trespassing

Jamar L. Wheeler, 29, 3000 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, was arrested on March 1 and issued municipal citations charging obstructing justice and trespassing after officers were dispatched to the Marathon Gas Station, 385 Sauk Trail, in reference to a report of an unwanted subject.

SouthCom Dispatch advised officers that a man wearing an orange shirt and green coat was in the store allegedly threatening an employee. Upon arrival, the responding officer located a man matching that description walking eastbound on Sauk Trail in the Family Video store parking lot at 373 Sauk Trail.

The officer parked in that lot and approached the man, later identified as Jamar L. Wheeler, on foot.

Mr. Wheeler began walking towards the officer with both of his hands in the pockets of his jacket. The officer asked Mr. Wheeler to remove his hands from his pockets and asked Mr. Wheeler if he had any knives or weapons on his person.

Mr. Wheeler allegedly replied, “Guns and stuff.”

For officer safety, Mr. Wheeler was detained and placed into handcuffs.

The officer asked Mr. Wheeler where the guns were and Mr. Wheeler allegedly replied that they were in his pocket. The officer asked Mr. Wheeler which pocket the gun was in and Mr. Wheeler then informed the officer that he did not have a gun.

A search of Mr. Wheeler’s person yielded no firearms or contraband. When the officer asked Mr. Wheeler for identification, Mr. Wheeler allegedly replied, “I ain’t telling you shit. I’m not telling you nothing.”

The officer informed Mr. Wheeler that he would be transported back to the Police Department and Mr. Wheeler allegedly swore again. The officer placed Mr. Wheeler in the rear of a squad vehicle.

Another officer went to the Marathon Gas Station and learned that Mr. Wheeler asked where the beer was in the store. The clerk informed Mr. Wheeler that the stored does not sell beer. Mr. Wheeler then allegedly proceeded to argue with the clerk. The clerk asked Mr. Wheeler to leave the store three times. Mr. Wheeler eventually left but allegedly returned back inside the store and refused to leave.

The clerk said that she wished to sign a municipal citation against Mr. Wheeler on a charge of criminal trespassing. Mr. Wheeler was subsequently transported to the Park Forest Police Station.

“In booking Wheeler finally provided officers with his identification,” according to the report. He was issued the municipal citations and then police provided Mr. Wheeler a ride to Route 30 and Western Avenue.


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