Law and Order, Local Police Reports, Park Forest

Domestic Battery and More: Park Forest Police Beat through September 29, 2018


Officer Tim Jones Way, Park Forest Police, PFPD, domestic battery
The sign for Officer Tim Jones Way outside the Park Forest Police Department. (Photo: Gary Kopycinski)

Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Editor’s Note: This police beat coverage represents reports through September 29, 2018. Charges for those arrested in this time period include domestic battery, DUI, and physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. There is also a domestic incident that allegedly involved biting and scratching, according to police.

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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 entail 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.

Domestic Battery, Battery

Rumelrow O. Rice, 29, 153 Nanti St., Park Forest, was arrested on September 28 and charged with one count of domestic battery, one count of battery, and one count of criminal damage to property after police were dispatched at 4:30 PM to the 100 block of Nanti Street to investigate a report of criminal damage to property.

While on their way, SouthCom Dispatch advised officers that the alleged offender, Rumelrow Rice, allegedly broke a window with his hand and allegedly battered another client. The residence is considered a group home for mentally or physically challenged individuals, according to police.

According to police, earlier in the morning Mr. Rice and another client were involved in a verbal argument that escalated into a fight. Mr. Rice allegedly attempted to kick the other client but missed and broke a television. A worker at the residence and another client broke up the altercation.

Mr. Rice was charged and later transported to the Will County Adult Detention Facility pending a bond hearing, according to police.

Physical Control of a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol

Anthony M. Gray, 32, 16218 Honore St., Markham, was arrested on September 28 and charged with one count of actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, one count of operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and one count of driver’s license not on person when police were dispatched to a business in the 400 block of Sauk Trail for a well-being check.

Officers were advised via dispatch that a man was sleeping in a silver Jeep Laredo which was parked and running in front of a store. The call came in at 8:04 PM.

Upon arrival, an officer observed the Jeep Laredo parked directly in front of the entrance doors to the store. The vehicle was running and the front windows were slightly open. Music was playing from the stereo of the vehicle at an extremely high volume and was audible to the officer as he entered the parking lot. The officer approached the passenger side of the vehicle and observed the driver, later learned to be Anthony M. Gray, slumped to his right side. He appeared to be sleeping, according to police. The officer observed a large open can of Bud Ice beer in the center cup holder of the vehicle directly next to Mr. Gray. The officer also saw the tip of a clear glass bottle with a red cap on the driver’s seat next to Mr. Gray’s right leg.

The officer opened the driver’s door and tapped Mr. Gray several times trying to wake him but was unsuccessful. The officer turned the vehicle off using Mr. Gray’s keys which were in the ignition of the vehicle.

The officer made contact with the business owner who said he arrived approximately 40 minutes prior and observed Mr. Gray sleeping in his vehicle. Approximately 40 minutes later, the business owner exited the store and observed that Mr. Gray was still sleeping in his vehicle. The business owner saw the can of beer in the center cupholder and believed Mr. Grade to be intoxicated so he called the police.

Two officers then stood at the driver’s door of the vehicle attempting to wake Mr. Gray by shouting to him and tapping him on the arm. Mr. Gray eventually woke up. He looked around, appearing tired and confused, according to police. Officers asked Mr. Gray his name three times and Mr. Gray replied by mumbling unintelligibly, according to police. Eventually, Mr. Gray replied, “Anthony.”

An officer asked Mr. Gray where he lives and Mr. Gray said that he lives with his aunt. Mr. Gray continued to ramble incoherently in significantly slurred speech, according to the report. Mr. Gray’s eyes were glassy and bloodshot, according to the report, and the strong odor of alcohol emanated from his breath.

An officer asked Mr. Gray if he knew where he was and he stated that he was at the store, that he came from “the house” to use the restroom. The officer asked where his residence was located. Mr. Gray related that he lives “down the road in Park Forest” and gave an address of 16218 Somonauk and then shortly after gave an address of 55 Somonauk, neither of which are valid Park Forest addresses, according to police.

Police told Mr. Gray to exit the vehicle.

n officer told Mr. Gray that he was going to conduct field sobriety tests. The officer attempted to explain one of the tests to Mr. Gray multiple times. Mr. Gray repeatedly interrupted the officer and asked if he could urinate inside the store. Mr. Gray continued to interrupt the officer’s instructions saying, “Can I leave?” and, “I’m literally about to pits on myself.” Mr. Gray clutched his groin as he spoke with the officer.

Mr. Gray then urinated on himself, according to police.

An officer began one of the tests and Mr. Gray immediately moved his head to follow the officer’s finger. The officer reminded Mr. Gray to move only his eyes. Mr. Gray swayed back and forth during the test. He continued to clutch his groin with both hands throughout the test and then urinated on himself once more.

After more field sobriety tests, Mr. Gray’s vehicle was towed and impounded under local ordinance and Mr. Gray was placed under arrest under suspicion of being in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

At the Park Forest Police Department, Mr. Gray refused to provide a breath sample. Upon checking Mr. Gray’s criminal history, the arresting officer learned that this was Mr. Gray’s third arrest on a DUI, making this case felony-eligible, according to police.

Mr. Gray had been arrested on September 18, 2018, by the Beecher Police Department’s on a DUI charge, according to police. Mr. Gray had also been arrested on September 3, 2018, by the Cook County Sheriff’s Police on a DUI charge, according to police.

Due to the previous arrests, the arresting officer contacted the Cook County Felony Review and was advised that this case would not be reviewed for approval for a felony charge due to the fact that the two prior DUI cases were still pending. Mr. Gray was charged and released from the Park Forest Police Department on his own recognizance with the court date of October 22 at the Markham Courthouse, according to police.

DUI and more

Jeremy A. Hoskins, 31, of the 0-100 block of Marquette Street, Park Forest, was arrested on September 29 and issued citations charging speeding, improper lane usage, failure to signal when required, operation of an uninsured motor vehicle, and driving under the influence of alcohol with a mandatory court appearance of October 22, 2018 at the Markham Courthouse.

An officer was conducting speed enforcement on Route 30 while parked near Indiana Street facing west. At approximately 1:50 AM, the officer noted a vehicle traveling eastbound on Route 30 at 58 miles per hour in a posted 40 miles per hour zone, according to police. The vehicle was the only vehicle traveling eastbound at that time, according to police.

The officer pulled onto Route 30 and followed the vehicle eastbound in the center of three lanes. The officer watched as the vehicle he was following continued past the intersection of Route 30 and Orchard Drive and veered left into the left-hand lane. After a short distance, the vehicle regained the center lane and continued eastbound. The vehicle continued eastbound pass the intersection of Route 30 and Brookwood Street and then began to veer into the right-hand lane. The vehicle then straddled the white divider Lane for approximately 150 feet before regaining the center lane, according to police.

The officer activated the emergency lighting of his squad attempting to curb the vehicle. The vehicle continued eastbound and at the intersection of Route 30 and Western Avenue, the vehicle suddenly veered left into the left-hand lane without signaling, according to police. Continuing through the intersection on a green traffic signal, the vehicle veered across the double yellow lane divider and almost into oncoming westbound traffic, according to police. The vehicle next veered back into the right-hand lane and again failed to signal, according to police. The vehicle continued eastbound for approximately a quarter-of-a-mile and turned southbound onto Division Street where it curbed shortly thereafter.

The officer approached the vehicle and spoke with the driver, later identified as Jeremy Hoskins. The officer asked Mr. Hoskins where he was coming from and Mr. Hoskins replied that he had come from a bar and grill located on Route 30 in Matteson. The officer requested that Mr. Hoskins submit to Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. Mr. Hoskins complied. After administering the tests, the officer informed Mr. Hoskins that he was under arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Mr. Hoskins was taken into custody without incident. His vehicle was towed from the scene and an administrative seizure was placed on the vehicle. Mr. Hoskins refused to submit a breath sample.

Domestic Battery

Leeona S. Goldman, 21, 460 Victoria Circle, Park Forest, was arrested on September 29 and charged with one count of domestic battery when police were dispatched to the 100 block of Monee Road to investigate a report of a disturbance. While on their way, SouthCom Dispatch advised police that the caller said two guys were beating up a female and somebody had a hammer.

When police arrived, they spoke with the man who said that his friend and his ex-girlfriend were inside the garage arguing. While approaching the garage, officers observed the garage door to be closed and could hear a verbal altercation inside. The garage door opened and the arguments stopped.

Police spoke with a man who said that Ms. Goldman sent a text that made someone upset and Ms. Goldman and the person she sent the text to began arguing with each other. Ms. Goldman and that person began fighting and Ms. Goldman allegedly bit that same person on his left upper arm, causing a laceration to his bicep, according to police, and allegedly scratched the back of his neck.

Ms. Goldman also allegedly struck the alleged victim on the head with a hammer and allegedly bit him under his left eye causing a laceration, according to police.


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