Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- A Hazel Crest man allegedly sped away from police while an officer was holding onto his arm. The caller alleged that the man was threatening her via text message from outside her home. This was the third incident of a busy week for police during the week that ended September 11.
The second incident, below, involves a Posen woman charged with criminal damage to property.
Park Forest Police Blotter Reports Through September 11, 2023, Part II
PFPD: Man Sped Away
Police arrested Devonte D. Heard, 27, 3708 River Rd., Hazel Crest, after investigating an incident on September 10 and charged him with obstructing/resisting an officer and driving while his license was suspended. They sought to press charges after he allegedly sped away from police while one officer was holding his arm.
Domestic on Waverly Court
Police were dispatched to Waverly Court on September 10 to investigate a domestic incident. The caller alleged to 911 operators that Devonte Heard was threatening her via text message, according to the report.
She said he was in a gold sedan outside her home, possibly a Honda Civic.
When police arrived, they saw a beige Honda Accord parked at the intersection of Waverly Street and Waverly Court. The officers approached the vehicle, one on each side of the car. The one on the driver’s side saw a man in the driver’s seat with the backrest reclined in the furthest setting towards the back seat, according to police.
Police Speak with the Driver
The officer knocked on the front driver’s window. The man appeared to lift his body off the backrest, according to police. An officer saw the man place both hands in the area of the steering wheel column under his seat, according to police.
The officer knocked on the window again. The man rolled the window down.
Ordering him not to reach for anything, the officer asked the man his name. The man responded, “Devonte Heard,” according to the report.
Police: The driver did not exit the car.
The officer asked Mr. Heard to get out of the car. He allegedly did not do so, according to police. Mr. Heard had his right hand by the vehicle’s ignition.
An officer told him not to start the car. This officer reached into the car and tried to open the front driver’s door, according to police. The other officer gave Mr. Heard several verbal commands to keep his hands on the steering wheel.
Mr. Heard allegedly did not comply, according to police.
The officer by the driver opened the door using the interior handle, according to police.
Driver Started the Car, Sped Off
As the door began to open, police heard the vehicle’s engine crank and start running, according to police. The officer by the driver grabbed Mr. Heard’s left arm and tried to pull him from the car, according to police.
Mr. Heard then allegedly began to pull away from the police. At the same time, the officer near Mr. Heard was still holding him and pulling on his arm, according to the report.
He succeeded in pulling away, closing the door, according to police. Mr. Heard then allegedly sped away from the location westbound on Waverly Street towards Lakewood Boulevard, according to police.
Officers returned to their patrol vehicles but lost sight of Mr. Heard’s car.
Interviewing the Complainant
One of them returned to Waverly Court to speak with the complainant. He learned that Mr. Heard might be heading to his home in Hazel Crest, according to police.
Officers asked Hazel Crest Police to check Mr. Heard’s address. At 6:45 AM, the Hazel Crest Police Department advised Park Forest officers that the Honda Accord was at that location. They also spoke with Mr. Heard’s parents, who told them Mr. Heard was currently inside the home, according to police.
Park Forest Goes to Hazel Crest
At 7:02 AM, a Park Forest officer responded to the 3700 block of River Road and saw the beige Honda Accord parked in the driveway. The officer advised a family member of Mr. Heard of the incident in Park Forest. He told the family member they were seizing the car, according to police.
The officer asked her to tell Mr. Heard to exit the residence willingly. She came out of the home a short time later and told him Mr. Heard was no longer inside, according to police.
A towing company arrived on the scene and towed Mr. Heard’s car.
The officer from Park Forest put together a wanted flyer for Devonte Heard on suspicion of obstructing/resisting a peace officer and driving while his license was suspended.
Mr. Heard later turned himself in at the Park Forest Police Department. There, officers arrested and charged him, according to police.
About Police Reports
Please note that we repeatedly say “according to police” in these reports and often use “allegedly.” We are not asserting in any way that those police arrested and charged committed any offenses. We report on what is in the reports that the police furnish to us. As those accused are innocent until proven guilty, the burden is on prosecutors and police to prove all alleged crimes.
eNews Park Forest has continuously published the 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 charged, including their name, age, and address. This information is necessary to ensure the proper identity of those arrested.
Presumption of Innocence
An arrest does not mean that a person is guilty. The law presumes all those whom police arrest are innocent until proven guilty. It is the policy of eNews Park Forest not to remove items from the public record from publication. Suppose you find your name in the police reports. Our policy is that 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.
We do not strike, “unpublish,” or delete news.
According to police, officers captured all the incidents in this report on body-worn and dash-mounted cameras at the respective scenes. All Park Forest police officers wear body-worn cameras. Officials typically abbreviate these devices as BWC in the reports.
We encourage persons wishing to leave anonymous information on any criminal matters, including narcotics or gang activity, to call the Park Forest Police Department Investigations Division at (708) 748-1309.
