Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Editor’s Note: These Park Forest Police blotter reports cover arrest incidents through July 10, 2018. Charges include endangering the life of a child, a DUI, possession of cannabis, and one incident where there was no arrest, but citations issued charging “animals running at large.”
At eNews Park Forest, we provide more details in reports now that we offer subscriptions. We invite you to get the whole story: please subscribe today.
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.
DUI
Dartagnun C. Davis, 28, 18614 May St., Homewood, was arrested on July 5 and charged with DUI, DUI Breath Alcohol Content greater than .08, illegal transportation of alcohol, speeding, improper lane use, and an improper stop.
An officer on patrol at approximately 1:45 AM observed that the vehicle Mr. Davis was driving traveling northbound on Western Avenue from 26th Street at a high rate of speed, according to police. The officer saw another vehicle that appeared to be traveling at the speed limit which the vehicle he was observing quickly passed.
The officer got directly behind the vehicle he observed, which was now stopped at the red light on Western Avenue and Beacon Boulevard. The officer observed that while the traffic signal was read, all four tires of the vehicle were beyond the stop line, according to police.
When the light turned green, the vehicle initially traveled slowly, moving to the far right side of the Lane toward the curb. It then began gaining speed, up to approximately 54 miles per hour where it was paced by the officer, according to police. The posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour. Between Beacon Boulevard and Lincoln Highway, the vehicle drifted into the center dividing line three times, according to police. It was also dramatically weaving within the lane and would quickly jerk to the left or right, according to police.
While approaching the red light at Lincoln Highway, the vehicle signaled a left lane change and moved to the left lane, stopping with the front of the car blocking the crosswalk, according to police. The officer curbed the vehicle after it passed through the intersection at Lincoln Highway.
The officer made contact with the driver and lone occupant, Dartagnun Davis. While speaking with Mr. Davis, the officer observed that his eyes were glassy, his speech slurred, and there was a smell of an alcoholic beverage emanating from inside the vehicle. Mr. Davis provided the officer with an old driver’s license (hole-punched) and proof of insurance. The officer advised Mr. Davis of the reason for the traffic stop. Mr. Davis stated that he was coming from his aunt’s house and was going to work. When asked about his “erratic driving,” according to the report, Mr. Davis stated that it was probably because he was trying to get to work.
The officer asked Mr. Davis to exit the vehicle to perform a Field Sobriety Tests. After the tests, Mr. Davis was placed under arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Police summoned a tow truck and an inventory search of the vehicle revealed an open 16 ounce can of beer, according to police. After a 20 minute observation at the Park Forest Police Department, Mr. Davis provided a breath sample indicating a Breath Alcohol Content of .12, according to police.
Possession of Cannabis
Ramon Collazo, 20, 222 1/2 Broadway St. Apt. 7, Joliet, was arrested on July 5 and issued citations charging possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis paraphernalia when police were dispatched to the intersection of Douglas and Sherman Streets to investigate a report of a suspicious auto at 2:09 AM.
When police arrived, they observed a vehicle parked on Sherman Street facing eastbound with a man sitting inside in the driver’s seat. The driver and sole occupant, Ramon Collazo, told police that he was just sitting in his vehicle and that he was involved in a vehicle accident earlier in the day.
He allegedly told police that he was not smoking cannabis inside the vehicle before the officers asked him, according to police.
One of the responding officers smelled a strong odor of cannabis emanating from inside the vehicle and observed white smoke exiting the vehicle through the open driver’s door window, according to police.
One officer conducted a protective pat-down of Mr. Collazo which yielded negative results for weapons or contraband. The other officer checked the vehicle and located a backpack on the front passenger seat which contained three plastic bags containing 24 grams of a green plant-like material, suspect cannabis. The officer also found two metal grinders and a digital scale in the backpack, along with multiple empty plastic Ziploc baggies, according to police.
Mr. Collazo was transported to the Park Forest Police Department. His vehicle was towed per village ordinance on suspicion of possession of cannabis. Mr. Collazo was released from the Park Forest Police Department at 3:25 AM after receiving his citations.
Animals Running At Large: No Arrest, Citations Issued
Dontae A. Pitts, 29, 11 Marquette Place, Park Forest, was issued two municipal citations on July 6 charging animals running at large with a municipal hearing date of August 2 after police were dispatched to the 300 block of Meota Street in reference to an animal complaint.
The complainant told police that he let his dog out into his backyard when two large German Shepherds chased his dog in an aggressive manner, attempting to attack it. His dog was not injured and was subsequently let back into the house. The two dogs then ran through the backyard to the street located east of his residence, Marquette Place. An officer looked into the backyard and observed two German Shepherds running east through a backyard of Marquette Place.
Another officer responded to the area and was flagged down by a man who said that he was on his way to work when two black German Shepherds ran after him. The man told police that the dogs were in the front yard of 11 Marquette Place. Police responded to that address and observed two large black German Shepherds in the front yard and driveway of that address. One officer observed that the gate to the rear yard was wide open with a chain hanging loose in the chain-link fence. There was no lock in the chain, according to police. As an officer approached, the dogs charged at him in an aggressive manner so he utilized an extended news pole to keep the dogs at a distance.
Eventually, the dogs retreated into the rear yard of 11 Marquette Place and someone let them in the house.
Public Intoxication
Henry A. Brown, 34, 116 26th St., Park Forest, was arrested on July 9 and issued municipal citations charging transport/possession of alcohol in public, intoxication in public, and drinking of alcoholic beverages on a public way.
Police responded to the first block of Ash Street to check on the well-being of a man passed out in a parking lot. Upon arrival, police observed the man, later identified as Henry A. Brown, sleeping fully clothed, lying on his left side on the curb in front of Court A-4, according to police.
An officer attempted to wake him up. He did not wake up initially. The officer checked for a pulse on Mr. Brown’s neck and felt his pulse. The officer rubbed Mr. Brown’s chest at which point he woke up.
Officers asked Mr. Brown if he was okay and Mr. Brown allegedly stated that he was drunk and sat down on the curb because he was tired. He took a drink from one of two open bottles of alcohol he had with him. One of the officers grabbed the two bottles of alcohol and poured the beverages onto the ground.
Mr. Brown knew he was in Park Forest and stated that he lived in Park Forest but could not provide his address, according to police. Mr. Brown had trouble balancing while standing and began walking with a limp, according to police. An officer called for the Park Forest Fire Department paramedics. Mr. Brown allegedly became irate when officers assisted him as he walked on Ash Street. Mr. Brown refused medical treatment and attempted to shut the door of the ambulance that responded to the scene.
Mr. Brown was taken into custody on suspicion of public intoxication and transported to the Park Forest Police Department, according to police.
Endangering the Life of a Child
Brandon K. McCann-Carter, 33, 6 Apple Lane, Park Forest, was arrested on July 9 and charged with one misdemeanor count of endangering the life of a child when police were dispatched at 12:46 PM to the first block of South Orchard Drive to investigate a report of a suspicious subject.
Upon arrival, officers met with Brandon K. McCann-Carter who appeared to be intoxicated, according to police. Mr. Carter had a four-year-old child with him.
While one of the responding officers was speaking with Mr. Carter, Mr. Carter allegedly began yelling and swearing. Mr. Carter said he entered a business and asked if he could charge his cell phone. A manager of the business allowed him inside of the store with his child. Mr. Carter then allegedly became belligerent in the store and started yelling, according to police. Mr. Carter also mentioned while at the business that it was his birthday and “all he wanted was some pu**y,” according to police.
After this allegedly happened, and after allegedly opening a can of alcohol, the manager of the store asked Mr. Carter to leave.
A second complainant from a daycare facility in that block heard Mr. Carter allegedly yelling obscenities such as, “It’s my birthday and all I want is some pu**y,” and “You’re going to hell and God is going to get you.” Mr. Carter allegedly tried to gain entry into the daycare, however, the worker at the daycare facility did not buzz him in, according to police.
An officer instructed Mr. Carter to put his hands behind his back, telling him that he was under arrest on suspicion of endangering the life of a child.
Mr. Carter was processed on a charge of misdemeanor endangering the life of a child and assigned a court date of August 7 at the Markham Courthouse.
Police contacted the Department of Children and Family Services, speaking with a child welfare specialist who related that she would respond to the Park Forest Police Department to interview Mr. Carter and the mother of his child, according to police.
Criminal Trespass To Motor Vehicle
Dvonte C.D. Batie, 26, 818 Ash St., Flossmoor, was issued a citation on July 9 charging criminal trespass to a motor vehicle when an officer at the Park Forest Police Department who was investigating a traffic accident was advised by the owner of a vehicle that Dvonte Batie did not have permission to take her vehicle, according to police. Mr. Batie was issued an I-Bond and assigned a court date of August 7 at the Markham Courthouse, according to police.