Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Editor’s Note: This police beat coverage represents reports from through September 10, 2018. Charges include two incidents of domestic battery and one of
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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.
Domestic Battery
Brent J. Blackshire, 38, 310 Douglas St., Park Forest, was arrested on September 7 and charged with one count of domestic battery when police were dispatched to the 300
The complainant said that the alleged offender hit her in the eye and was intoxicated, according to police.
According to police, at approximately 2 AM the complainant awoke to find that her husband, Brent Blackshire, was not home. Worried about his well-being, the complainant went to his “favorite hangout,” a bar and grill in Markham. She located Mr. Blackshire inside
Upon seeing the complainant and her vehicle, Mr. Blackshire allegedly set off and proceeded onto I-57. The complainant followed him. Both subjects arrived back at their residence in Park Forest.
Mr. Blackshire went upstairs and began to watch television. The complainant wanted to go to sleep and turned off the television. According to the complainant, Mr. Blackshire became very upset, allegedly grabbed the complainant by her left arm and allegedly pushed her into the wall of an adjacent bedroom. Mr. Blackshire then allegedly placed his arm around her neck and body preventing her from unplugging the television.
She reached into her shorts pocket to retrieve her phone to call the police. Mr. Blackshire allegedly knocked her cell phone out of her hand.
The two began to “tussle” on the floor, according to police. During the tussle, the complainant allegedly was struck in her right eye by Mr. Blackshire. The complainant told police that she wished to pursue a criminal complaint on a charge of domestic battery.
An officer provided the complainant with an Illinois Domestic Violence Act Victim Information Form. Police also advised the complainant on how to seek an order of protection.
Domestic Battery
Christopher Dawson, 27, 8629 S. Laflin St., Chicago, was arrested on September 7 at 6 PM and charged with domestic battery when police were dispatched to a business in the 300
According to police, the alleged victim was meeting with her ex-boyfriend, Mr. Dawson, in the parking lot of Family Video so he could take custody of their child. During the exchange, Mr. Dawson allegedly began yelling at the woman when she was going to leave. She needed to change her child’s diaper and was doing that on the front seat of her vehicle, according to the report. Mr. Dawson then entered the alleged victim’s vehicle on the passenger side and allegedly began hitting and pushing her head, according to police. Mr. Dawson then allegedly took the alleged victim’s keys and cell phone and went to his vehicle, according to police.
The alleged victim followed Mr. Dawson and demanded her keys and phone and was able to retrieve her property. She returned to her vehicle and Mr. Dawson followed and allegedly began punching her in the face, according to police. The alleged victim said she had her baby on her lap as Mr. Dawson allegedly continued to strike her and she believed he struck her child, according to police.
Mr. Dawson was charged with domestic battery, processed, and placed in a cell at the Park Forest Police Department awaiting transport to the Markham Courthouse.
Driving While License Suspended
Alchere F. (Fox) Arthur, 32, 1123 Hickory Rd., Homewood, was arrested on September 8 and charged with expired registration, driving while license was suspended, one headlight, and unlawful use of a registration sticker. Ms. Arthur was assigned a mandatory court date of October 10 at the Markham Courthouse and released after posting bond.
Officers on patrol at Sauk Trail and Central Park Avenue observed a silver Dodge wagon driving eastbound on Sauk Trail that had only one illuminated headlight, according to police. Officers positioned the patrol vehicle behind the Dodge and ran the license plate, learning that it was expired as of March 2017.
Police initiated a traffic stop near Family Video, 373 Sauk Trail.
An officer approached the vehicle and spoke to the driver and lone occupant, Alchere Arthur. Police could smell a strong odor of burnt cannabis coming from inside the vehicle, according to the report. An officer requested Ms. Arthur’s driver’s license. She provided an Illinois state ID card instead, according to police.
After running Ms. Arthur’s information through LEADS, police learned that her driving privileges were suspended under her maiden name of Fox. An officer instructed Ms. Arthur to step out of the vehicle and placed her in handcuffs under suspicion of driving while license was suspended.
During that same time, a sergeant noticed that the license plate number listed at the top of the registration sticker on the vehicle did not match the actual license plate number. The sergeant then ran the license plate number from the registration sticker which came back to a red Ford out of Steger.
Ms. Arthur’s vehicle was seized and towed under local ordinance.
Battery & Criminal Damage to Property
Deon R. Benton, 1022 Werline Ave., Ford Heights, was arrested on September 9 and charged with battery and criminal damage to property when police were dispatched to the first block of Towanda Court in reference to a report of a disturbance.
According to police, a woman was dropping off her friend at her residence in the first block of Towanda Court. When they arrived, her friend noticed her boyfriend, Deon Benton, outside of the residence. According to the report, Mr. Benton immediately charged at the vehicle and tried to open the front passenger door where his girlfriend was seated.
The door was locked so Mr. Benton allegedly began hitting the window, according to police.
His girlfriend then exited the vehicle and Mr. Benton allegedly started arguing with her. At one point Mr. Benton allegedly began hitting her, according to police. Her friend tried to intervene and Mr. Benton allegedly struck the friend in the face with a closed fist, according to police.
Mr. Benton was taken into custody and transported to the Park Forest Police Department where he was charged with battery and criminal damage to property. Police issued him a recognizance bond and he was released with a court date of October 11 at the Joliet Courthouse.
Related: High-speed Chase: Park Forest Police Blotter Reports for August 9-14, 2018
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