Law and Order, Local Police Reports, Park Forest

Felonies Charged: Park Forest Police Reports Through July 9, 2019


Park Forest Police 70th Anniversary logo
The Park Forest Police Department was created by Village Ordinance on June 14, 1949, but the first call for service was not until October 2nd of that year. “In 2019 we will be celebrating 70 years of serving and protecting the Village of Park Forest,” police said in a social media post. (Logo: Officer Ryan Purdy of the PFPD)

Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- These police reports include arrests through July 9, 2019, two separate reports of felonies charged. Charges for those arrested include felony aggravated domestic battery and felony possession of cannabis with intent to deliver.

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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 Domestic Battery

Godfrey Martin Jr., 47, 22616 Crescent Way, Richton Park, was arrested on July 4 and charged July 5 with one count of felony aggravated domestic battery after police were dispatched to the 300 block of Somonauk Street at 11:45 PM to investigate a report of domestic battery.

Mr. Martin allegedly punched a woman with a closed fist on the left side of her face and in her chest area, according to the report. Mr. Martin then allegedly tore off parts of the woman’s clothing during the alleged altercation, according to police. Mr. Martin then allegedly threw the woman onto the floor and allegedly choked her by placing both of his hands around her neck causing her to nearly lose consciousness, according to police.

The woman said she was able to push Mr. Martin off of her and contact 911.

According to police, Mr. Martin told them that he returned from work on July 4 at approximately 5 PM and began to drink alcoholic beverages allegedly stating that he consumed two Icehouse beers and some vodka, according to the report.

Felony Possession of Cannabis

Lonnie D. Jones, 28, 185 W. 14th Place #A4, Chicago Heights, was arrested on July 5 and charged with misdemeanor possession of cannabis, felony possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, and issued a traffic citation charging improper display of registration.

An officer was parked in the parking lot of a business in the 300 block of Sauk Trail facing west conducting stationary traffic enforcement of eastbound traffic. After observing traffic for several minutes, the officer saw a green Chrysler 300 traveling eastbound on Sauk Trail that had no front-mounted registration, according to police.

The officer curbed the vehicle on Shabbona Drive near Marquette Street.

The officer spoke with the driver and sole occupant, Lonnie D. Jones, and informed Mr. Jones of the reason for the stop. While doing so, the officer observed the vehicle’s registration tucked between the front dashboard and windshield.

While speaking with Mr. Jones, the officer detected a strong odor of fresh cannabis emanating from within the vehicle. The officer asked Mr. Jones how much cannabis was inside the vehicle. Mr. Jones allegedly opened an ashtray in the vehicle which revealed a small hand-rolled cigar containing a green leafy substance, suspect cannabis. Mr. Jones allegedly stated that he had just finished smoking.

When asked, Mr. Jones told the officer that he did not possess a medical cannabis license.

The officer instructed Mr. Jones to exit the vehicle and he complied. The officer conducted a search of Mr. Jones’ person and located a clear plastic knotted baggie containing a green leafy substance, suspect cannabis, in Mr. Jones’ left front pocket, according to police. The officer also found a clear plastic baggie containing a green leafy substance, suspect cannabis, inside Mr. Jones’ pants, according to police.

The officer placed Mr. Jones into handcuffs and conducted a search of Mr. Jones’s vehicle.

Inside the car, the officer found one package of top-fold sandwich baggies (150 count), one clear plastic sandwich bag containing a green leafy substance, suspect cannabis, a black digital scale with suspected cannabis residue on the surface, a hand-rolled cigar containing a green leafy substance, suspect cannabis, in the ashtray of the vehicle, and a large wad of US currency in various denominations located in the center console underneath the vehicle’s radio.

Mr. Jones’ currency included $290 recovered from within the vehicle and $170 recovered on Mr. Jones person during an inventory of his property. The recovered currency from Mr. Jones was seized pending civil asset forfeiture proceedings.

Mr. Jones was placed in custody pending transportation to the Markham Courthouse for a mandatory bond hearing, according to police.

Criminal Trespass to Real Property

Raymond R. Walker Jr., 33, 445 Pacesetter Pkwy., Riverdale, was arrested on July 6 and charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespass to real property. Mr. Walker was assigned a court date of July 25, 2019, at the Markham Courthouse. Mr. Walker was also issued a municipal citation charging the drinking of alcoholic beverages on public ways and was given an optional court date of August 8, 2019, at the Park Forest Police Department.

Police responded at 3:59 PM to a business in the 400 block of Sauk Trail to investigate a report of a suspicious subject. SouthCom Dispatch related that a man in a gray shirt was allegedly exposing himself in public, according to police.

When police arrived, they observed a man, later identified as Raymond R. Walker Jr., exiting the store allegedly carrying an open 24-ounce Icehouse beer can, according to police. Mr. Walker matched the description provided and a witness waived at the officer and indicated that Mr. Walker was the person indicated in the call to police.

According to a witness, Mr. Walker was standing in the roadway of Sauk Trail rubbing the exterior of his pants near his genitals and lifting his shirt to show his stomach, the report said. Mr. Walker was also talking loudly and incoherent to himself, according to the witness.

Police spoke with an employee at the business who said that just prior to the arrival of police, Mr. Walker was standing outside near the entrance doors of the business and allegedly yelling obscenities, talking to himself in an incoherent manner, according to police. Mr. Walker was also allegedly holding a beer can and allegedly approaching patrons in an aggressive manner while shaking the can and asking for free currency, according to police.

The responding officer learned that Mr. Walker had been banned from the store on May 5, 2019, because he allegedly alarmed customers in a similar manner, according to police.

Municipal Citation Charging Battery

Shannon K. Thomas, 31, 70 Water St., Park Forest, was issued a municipal citation on July 7 charging battery after police were dispatched to a residence in the first block of Water Street to investigate a report of battery. “Due to the lesser nature of the battery, a municipal citation” was issued, according to the report.


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