The Park Forest Police Station. (Photo: Gary Kopycinski)
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.
Persons wishing to leave anonymous information on any criminal matters including narcotics or gang activity are encouraged to call 708-748-1309 and leave a message on Detective Beilke’s voice mail.
Justin G. Austin, 2502 S. Ash St., Chicago Heights, was arrested on September 15 and charged with obstructing a peace officer, aggravated assault against a peace officer, and resisting a peace officer when a detective in the area of Lakewood Boulevard and Windsor Street was called to the area where there had been a large fight. Three subjects were taken into custody. Police say a juvenile taken into custody was to be petitioned on a charge of obstructing a peace officer and resisting a peace officer.
A juvenile was issued a municipal citation charging theft when police were dispatched to Walgreens in the first block of South Orchard Drive on September 15.
Police were dispatched to a residence in the first block of Waverly Court on September 15 to investigate an alarm call. Police discovered that entry had been gained to the residence. Police contacted the owner of the property who indicated that he currently owns the property but has never been there. Police continue to investigate.
Police were dispatched to a business in the first block of North Street on September 16 to investigate a burglar alarm. Police discovered a shattered window but discovered no suspects inside or outside the building.
John Shines, 27, 3433 Kings Rd., Steger, was arrested on September 16 and issued a municipal ticket charging possession of cannabis when a vehicle in which he was a passenger was pulled over because the driver was not wearing a seatbelt, according to police. Police say they had observed a vehicle traveling north on Western Avenue in the area of Western Avenue and 26th Street.
Police provided a woman with information on how to obtain an order of protection after her ex-boyfriend allegedly threatened to harm her and her current boyfriend with a gun, police say. The report was made at the Park Forest Police Department on September 17.
Police were dispatched to the Park Forest Police Department on September 19 to investigate a report of fraud. A resident reported over $300 in charges on her debit card which she said she did not approve. Police continue to investigate.
Three bottles of liquor were reported stolen from CVS Pharmacy, 1 Main Street, on September 19. Police say four juveniles managed to remove three electronic anti-theft caps from the bottles before leaving the store.
A white gold Movado watch valued at $500, a brown watch with diamonds on the face valued at $500, an Egyptian cartouche ring, a gold charm bracelet valued at $6000, a white gold ring with three rows of diamonds valued at $4000, a white gold ring with three large diamonds valued at $8000, a gold cross pendant in white gold valued at $400, and a Sony Cybershot camera valued at $500 were reported stolen from a residence in the 200 block of Berry Street on September 19.
A juvenile was arrested on September 19 and charged with theft when police were dispatched to the Park Forest Library, 400 Lakewood Boulevard, to investigate a report of theft of a bicycle.
The rear license plate of a vehicle parked in the 300 block of Shabbona Drive was reported stolen on September 19.
A juvenile was arrested and charged with battery when an officer working as a police liaison officer at Rich East High School was alerted to an altercation in a hallway. The incident occurred on September 20.
Brian A. Wakefield, 38, 9 Hawthorne Ave., Park Forest, was arrested on September 24 and charged with unlicensed used vehicle sales after police investigated a September 20 incident in which Wakefield allegedly sold an automobile to a customer in the 300 block of Somonauk Street and the customer returned a short time later unhappy with the quality of the vehicle he had purchased. Police say Wakefield told them he had been purchasing vehicles at auto auctions in Indiana and Illinois for the past three months and sold them at various locations in the South Suburbs including Country Club Hills and Park Forest. Police say he told them that he does not have a license to sell vehicles in Illinois.
Approximately 80 feet of copper pipe, an Armstrong central air conditioning condensing unit valued at $2300, and a black Bose radio valued at $200 were reported stolen from a residence in the 400 block of Indiana Street on September 20.
A wallet was reported stolen from an unlocked vehicle parked in the driveway of St. Ann’s Cemetery on Sauk Trail on September 21.
An officer was dispatched to the Park Forest Police Department on September 21 to investigate a report of fraud. A business owner reported a fraudulent check in the amount of $2100 written against her business account. The woman said she still had the physical check with the same number as the check that had been processed. Police are investigating.
A Nikon camera and an iPod Touch were reported stolen from an unlocked locker in the first block of McGarity Street on September 21.
A window of a residence in the 3000 block of Western Avenue was reported shattered on September 22.
A Nintendo Wii valued at $200, a laptop computer valued at $700, an Xbox 360 valued at $200, and a flat-screen television valued at $600, were reported stolen from a residence in the 23400 block of South Western Avenue on September 22.
Two laptop computers valued at $2500 and a Nintendo Wii game system valued at $200 were reported stolen from a residence in the 100 block of Westwood Drive on September 22.
A juvenile was arrested and charged with no front registration plate, no valid driver’s license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle when an officer observed the vehicle the juvenile was driving traveling southbound on Central Park Avenue without a front registration plate, according to police. The incident occurred on September 22 and the juvenile may be further charged with resisting a peace officer pending further investigation, according to police.
An air-conditioning unit was reported stolen from a residence in the 100 block of Sycamore Drive on September 22.
A PlayStation 3 videogame system and approximately 20 PlayStation video games, a laptop computer and miscellaneous jewelry items were reported stolen from a residence in the 200 block of Arrowhead Street on September 23.
Ronald A. Alexander, 23, 4706 Lee Ct., Richton Park, was arrested on September 23 and charged with possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia and issued municipal citations charging failure to signal when required when detectives on patrol observed the vehicle Alexander was driving switch lanes while passing two vehicles, failing to signal on both occasions, according to police. The vehicle was observed traveling eastbound on Sauk Trail at Indianwood Boulevard, according to police.
Richard T. Hagar, 19, 85 W. 21st St., Chicago Heights, was arrested on September 24 and charged with domestic battery when police were dispatched to the first block of Oak Lane to investigate a report of domestic battery.
A window of a residence in the 100 block of Westwood Drive was reported shattered on September 24.
Jean Paul Washington, 32, 848 Central Ave., Matteson, was arrested on September 24 and charged with criminal trespass and resisting arrest when police were dispatched to the 200 block of Early Street to investigate a report of an unwanted subject in the area. Police say Washington appeared to be intoxicated when they arrived at the residence and allegedly had the resident "pinned" in a hallway approximately 10 feet from the front door, preventing her from answering the door.
