Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)— Editor’s Note: We continue our reporting on news from police reports. Besides covering the many stories from around Park Forest that otherwise might go unnoticed, we want to bring more complete coverage of police reports than is reported by other local media.
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.
Special thanks to Barbara Gallagher for assistance proofing and editing these reports.
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.
Police are pursuing an arrest warrant on an identity theft investigation that was first reported on April 15, 2015.
An officer responded to the Park Forest Police Department on April 13 to investigate a report of fraud. A resident told police that she was checking her bank statements and noticed a fraudulent charge in the amount of $689.19 at an Oak Park Jiffy Lube. Police are investigating.
A resident in the 100 block of Peach Street, Joshua M. Saindon, 109 Peach St., was issued a citation on April 25 charging leash required for a dog. Police had been called to that residence several times regarding a dog which was permitted outside without a leash and was defecating on the yards of surrounding neighbors. The owner of the dog was not cleaning up after the dog. Police say this is an ongoing problem and the owner of the dog refuses mediation to resolve the issue.
Police responded to the 400 block of Saugatuck Street on April 30 at approximately 12:34 AM to investigate a report of a residential burglary. Among items reported missing are the following: jewelry valued at $13,000, including four diamond earrings, three bracelets, three rope chains, and three diamond rings; two Apple laptops valued at $6000; one red designer handbag valued at $1750: $600 cash; and a Crystal clock valued at $550. A PlayStation 3 was also reported missing. The back door had a shattered glass window pane, according to police.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of Dogwood Street on May 1 to investigate a report of theft. According to police, a resident received a phone call from Columbia, South Carolina, informing him that he was the winner of a lottery. However, he needed to pay the taxes on the winnings in order to receive them. Therefore, he went to CVS Pharmacy in Park Forest and purchased four Visa debit gift cards in the amount of $500 each, totaling $2000. Afterwards, the resident contacted the man who had called him and provided the account numbers from the cards. Since then, the resident has not received any money from the lottery winnings, but has received another phone call informing him that he was the winner of $3.5 million, and an additional $100,000 and a Mercedes-Benz. However, he was told that he would have to pay for delivery of the prizes. While an officer was at the residence investigating, a “David Benjamin” called. The officer heard a male with a Jamaican accent promise the resident that people were in route to his residence with $3.5 million, an additional $100,000, and a new Mercedes-Benz, but the resident would need the gift card information to pay for the delivery. The resident did not purchase any new gift cards, and provided “David” with information from one of the older gift cards. The phone call ended. According to police, the caller ID on the resident’s home phone that “David” had called from provided the name of “JM Kingston.” A search using law enforcement databases revealed the number to be out of Kingston, Jamaica.
An officer was dispatched to the Park Forest Police Department on May 2 in reference to a walk-in complaint of a burglary that had occurred earlier. According to the complainant, sometime between the dates and times of September 2016 and April 30, 2017, an unknown suspect or suspects removed several items from a residence in the 100 block of Sycamore Drive. Among items reported missing are a white gold necklace with diamonds valued at $199.99, a white gold bracelet with diamonds valued at $325, a Pandora bracelet valued at $440, an Invicta men’s wristwatch valued at $57, and a black leather purse valued at $235.
Raymond M. Hawkins, 22, 4411 Bretz Dr., Richton Park, was arrested on May 2 and issued citations charging improper taillights and driving while license was suspended. He was also issued a municipal citations charging possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia. An officer on patrol traveling northbound on Western Avenue approaching Main Street observed a vehicle in front of him traveling northbound on Western Avenue where the taillights appeared to be tinted black, not allowing the brake lights to be visible, according to police.
Police were dispatched to the 400 block of Suwanee Street on May 5 at approximately 5:20 AM to investigate a report of shots fired. While en route, dispatch advised police that a male subject accidentally shot himself in the hand. Upon arrival, a resident told police that he was getting himself ready for work. While in the bathroom, he was loading his firearm. While putting the slide of the shield forward, the firearm accidentally discharged and the bullet penetrated his left hand. The resident told police he was embarrassed about the incident and that he was in a lot of pain. According to police, the resident carries a firearm on his person for self-defense since two years ago he was a victim of an armed robbery in Chicago. Police determined that the resident has a valid FOID card and a valid Concealed Carry Weapons permit. Police noted that the discharge bullet had exited East through the bathroom window towards the back yard. Upon further examination, police noted a possible bullet hole in the fence, east of the residence. Police checked a residence in the 300 block of Blackhawk Drive and discovered a possible bullet hole on the west side of the building. Police spoke to the resident at the home in the 300 block of Blackhawk Drive related that no one was injured and he did not observe any bulletholes inside. There were no arrests.
An officer was dispatched to the first block of Indianwood Boulevard on May 5 to investigate a report of a delayed theft. A gold watch and a blow dryer were reported missing from the residence. Police have suspect information and are investigating.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of Tamarack Street on May 6 to investigate a report of a burglary to an unlocked motor vehicle. A black shoulder bag and a black Lenovo laptop were reported missing. Police gathered evidence from the scene and are investigating.
