Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Only one arrest was reported between August 14-20, but it did involve a felony charge after a car chase captured by a dash-mounted camera, according to police.
Another incident involved tickets but no arrests.
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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.
Felony Aggravated Fleeing/Eluding a Peace Officer
Marcus A. Augusta, 25, 4104 142nd St., Crestwood, was arrested on August 17 and charged with one felony count of aggravated fleeing/eluding a peace officer. Additionally, Mr. Augusta was issued traffic citations charging failure to signal when required, aggravated speeding, improper turn, disobeying a stop sign, driving on the sidewalk, operation of an uninsured motor vehicle, and obstructed rear window.
An officer traveling west on an entrance road in the 2500 block of Western Avenue at about 1:20 PM observed a black BMW traveling southbound on Western Avenue in the curb lane allegedly at a high rate of speed, according to police.
The officer pulled onto Western Avenue and followed a group of vehicles southbound. When the officer did so, the black BMW allegedly veered into the left-hand lane without signaling, according to police.
After passing 26th Street, the vehicle allegedly made two additional lane changes without signaling and began to pass other southbound vehicles at a high rate of speed, according to police.
Prior to entering the intersection of Western Avenue and Main Street, the officer activated the emergency lights on his patrol vehicle, attempting to catch up to the BMW. At this point, the BMW allegedly increased its speed.
The officer caught up to the BMW as it turned right onto Indianwood Boulevard. The officer paced the vehicle at approximately 70 miles per hour in a posted 35 miles per hour zone, according to police.
The vehicle turned into Court G-3 on Indianwood Boulevard and appeared to be stopping but then conducted a U-turn in the middle of the court and turned back onto eastbound Indianwood Boulevard, according to police. The officer immediately conducted a U-turn and activated the emergency siren on his patrol vehicle.
The BMW then turned southbound onto Western Avenue, allegedly never stopping for the stop sign posted at that intersection, according to police.
The BMW allegedly continued southbound on Western Avenue at speeds in excess of 50 miles per hour in a 35 miles per hour zone, according to police.
The car then allegedly turned eastbound onto Chestnut Street from the middle lane of Western Avenue without using the left-hand turn lane, according to police.
The officer’s patrol vehicle reached speeds of approximately 55 miles per hour on Chestnut Street in an attempt to catch up to the BMW. Chestnut Street is a posted 20 miles per hour zone, according to police.
The chase continued onto Cromwell Road, southbound onto Dunham Road, and eastbound onto Dunlap Road, according to the report. The vehicle reached a dead-end on Dunlap Road and allegedly drove through the front lawn of a residence in the first block of Dunlap Road, continuing through a portion of Murphy Park, over the sidewalk, and back onto southbound Chestnut Street, according to police.
The officer followed the vehicle southbound, reaching speeds of approximately 60 miles per hour in an attempt to catch the BMW. The vehicle then turned onto Chestnut Court and pulled into the driveway of a home. The officer pulled directly behind the BMW in the driveway, at which point the car began to reverse, apparently attempting to leave, according to police.
The officer then drew his handgun and pointed it at the driver, later identified as Marcus A. Augusta.
Mr. Augusta immediately raised his hands above his head and stopped the vehicle, according to police.
The officer ordered Mr. Augusta to keep his hands up and to not move as other officers arrived on the scene to assist. Mr. Augusta was then ordered from the vehicle and taken into custody without further incident, according to police.
After the arresting officer read Mr. Augusta his Miranda Rights and he said that he understood them, the officer spoke with Mr. Augusta, who allegedly told the officer that he did not stop because he had just been pulled over the night before by “county police” and did not want to get another ticket.
The incident was captured on dash-mounted and body-worn cameras by officers on the scene, according to police.
NO ARREST: Possession of Cannabis, Speeding
Florentino E. Shores, 20, 311 Sioux St., Park Forest, was issued a local ordinance citation on August 18 charging possession of cannabis after an officer driving north on Western Avenue at Hemlock Street observed a silver vehicle traveling southbound allegedly at a high rate of speed, according to police.
The squad’s dash-mounted radar unit registered the vehicle speed as 58 miles per hour in a posted 35 miles per hour zone, according to police.
The officer conducted a U-turn and curbed the vehicle on Sauk Trail just east of Western Avenue. Mr. Florentino Shores was a passenger in the vehicle and allegedly admitted that a clear plastic sandwich baggie containing a green leafy plant material resembling cannabis found under the passenger seat belong to him, according to the report.
The driver of the vehicle, Hakeem M. Shores, 22, 311 Sioux St., Park Forest, was issued a citation charging speeding.
Both men refused to sign their citations. The vehicle was towed from the scene and both men were told they were free to leave. They were not taken into custody or arrested.
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