Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Editor’s Note: This coverage represents reports from July 25 through July 30, 2018. There is one additional report from this batch we will not publish tonight. We requested some clarification of charges on that one. Charges this week were filed after a Crete man talked himself into an arrest, essentially. After he was told police were not arresting him but simply writing him a ticket, the man appeared to object. Another report involves a domestic battery, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm without a FOID, and criminal damage to property
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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.
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.
Unlawful Display of Registration, Obstructing/Resisting a Peace Officer
A Crete man essentially talked himself into an arrest after he was stopped by police on July 25 at 11:24 PM. Officers traveling north on Western Avenue at Sauk Trail read the temporary registration number of a tan Chevrolet Impala that was turning left onto Sauk Trail. The registration came back registered to a white Chevrolet Express van, according to police.
Officers curbed the vehicle at Sauk Trail and Windsor Street.
One of the officers met with the driver, Alfred L. Wilson, 52, 24710 Willow Brook Trail, Crete. Mr. Wilson told the officer that he was heading home to Matteson.
The officer advised Mr. Wilson that he had been stopped because the registration on the rear of his vehicle came back to a different van. Mr. Wilson advised that he attempted to transfer the registration from the Chevrolet Express van to his Chevrolet Impala at the Secretary of State’s office. He further advised that there was a delay in transferring the plates. Mr. Wilson handed the officer the paperwork from the Richton Park Currency Exchange for his Chevrolet Express van.
A second officer at the scene spoke with Mr. Wilson who advised that he had taken the plates off his wife’s Chevrolet Express van and place them on his Chevrolet Impala.
Mr. Wilson asked if it was illegal to do that. The officer advised him that it was illegal.
The officers attempted to explain to Mr. Wilson that he was receiving a ticket on a charge of improper display of registration and Mr. Wilson repeatedly asked what he was guilty of. One of the officers advised again that it is illegal to take a registration plate from one car and place it on another.
The officers explained to Mr. Wilson that they were not arresting him. Mr. Wilson allegedly stated, “You could arrest me if you want to.”
One of the officers asked Mr. Wilson if he wanted to be arrested, and Mr. Wilson allegedly stated, “Go ahead, if that is what you think you wanted me to do.”
An officer asked Mr. Wilson to step out of the vehicle. Mr. Wilson allegedly replied, “Yeah, I ain’t steppin’ out of the car.” That officer asked Mr. Wilson to step out of the vehicle several more times and Mr. Wilson allegedly did not comply, according to police. The officer who had been asking Mr. Wilson to step out of the car opened the front left driver’s side door and grabbed under Mr. Wilson’s left shoulder in an attempt to arrest Mr. Wilson.
While grabbing underneath Mr. Wilson’s left arm, Mr. Wilson began to pull away from the officer and advised that he had to unbuckle his seatbelt. The officer told Mr. Wilson that he was not wearing a seatbelt.
While attempting to place Mr. Wilson into handcuffs, Mr. Wilson tensed his right arm and would not allow the other officer to place his right arm behind his back. Mr. Wilson told the officers that he had shoulder pain. The officers placed two different sets of handcuffs behind his back. One of the officers was able to fit his index finger in between Mr. Wilson’s wrist and the handcuffs prior to double locking both sets of handcuffs, according to police.
Mr. Wilson’s vehicle was towed per village ordinance.
Mr. Wilson was transported to the Park Forest Police Department where he was charged with one count of unlawful display of registration and one count of obstructing/resisting a peace officer. He was issued an I-bond and received a September 13 court date at the Markham Courthouse.
Aggravated Assault
Latoya P. Hall, 35, 415 Winnebago St., Park Forest, was arrested on July 26 and charged with domestic battery, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm without a FOID, and criminal damage to property when officers responded to the 400 block of Winnebago Street to investigate a report of a domestic battery.
While en route, SouthCom Dispatch advised police that the alleged victim would be waiting inside a vehicle at a specified location. The alleged victim told police that he and Ms. Hall were inside 415 Winnebago Street and were having a verbal argument regarding money. The argument grew to the point where the alleged victim decided to leave.
As the alleged victim was attempting to leave, Ms. Hall allegedly approached him with a kitchen knife demanding that he give her money. As he stepped outside the front door, Ms. Hall allegedly grabbed him and tried to prevent him from leaving, according to police. The alleged victim said he was wearing a maroon bookbag. Ms. Hall allegedly used the knife and cut a strap from the bookbag.
Ms. Hall held onto the backpack and the alleged victim fell to the ground.
Ms. Hall then allegedly stood over the alleged victim and started to swing the knife at him, according to police. The alleged victim avoided getting cut with a knife by rolling over on the ground, according to police.
Two other officers spoke with Ms. Hall. During this part of the investigation, a Sgt. recovered a loaded silver .38 caliber Taurus Revolver as well as the knife used in the alleged attack. The officer also recovered one strap to the bookbag from inside the residence.
Ms. Hall was placed under arrest and transported to the Park Forest Police Department.
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