Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)—An officer sustained a broken finger during an incident as a man allegedly refused and resisted officers’ commands. On Christmas Eve, police responded to a call of domestic battery. Their report puts one victim inside the home. The officer became the second victim.
Other reports follow as well.
Park Forest Police Blotter Reports Beginning December 22, 2024
Domestic Battery
Police arrested Phillip M. Propst, 35, of the 400 block of Tomahawk St., Park Forest, on December 22 and charged him with one count of domestic battery.
Police responded to a home on Tomahawk Street to investigate a report of a domestic incident. The complainant told police that at approximately 2:16 AM, she left her home to visit family and did not pick up any calls from Philip M. Propst, police said. When she returned home at approximately 7 AM, Mr. Propst allegedly confronted her about being out.
The complainant alleged that Mr. Propst began to yell, backed her into a corner in their living room, and demanded her phone. While demanding the phone, he allegedly placed one of his hands on her throat and began to choke her. As he did so, he said, “Where were you? Let me see her phone,” according to the report.
She alleged that Mr. Probst choked her for approximately 15 to 30 seconds. During that time, she said she was afraid because it was hard to breathe, police said. She did not lose consciousness, according to police.
Later, the two made their way into the garage, where Mr. Probst allegedly pushed her to the floor, according to police. As she attempted to get back up, she alleged that Mr. Probst pushed her down again and stepped on her ankle as he was trying to stomp on her phone to break it, police said.
While on the floor, the complainant said she was able to grab a pair of scissors, which she jammed towards Mr. Probst’s leg, according to police. Mr. Probst then went inside the house, and the complainant used that opportunity to get out of the garage, according to police.
Domestic Battery
Police arrested Rakari J. Coleman, 29, of the 400 block of Shabbona Dr., Park Forest, on December 22 and charged him with domestic battery.
Police responded to a home on Shabbona Drive at 7:19 PM about a disturbance report. Upon arrival, someone told a responding officer about a fight inside the residence. According to police, both responding officers saw the front door open and a man and woman pushing each other.
Police separated both parties. The man was Rakari J. Coleman, police said. The woman alleged that Mr. Coleman punched her and pulled her hair, according to police. She showed officers her face, which showed bruising and red marks, police said.
Felony Aggravated Domestic Battery
Police arrested Thomas R. Ryder II, of the first block of Brookside Rd., Park Forest, on December 24 and charged him with misdemeanor domestic battery and one count of felony aggravated domestic battery. Officials also charged him with one count of aggravated battery to a police officer. According to the report, Mr. Ryder resisted officers, and one officer sustained a broken and dislocated finger during this incident.
At 3:35 PM, police responded to a home on Brookside Road about a report of domestic battery. According to police, officers responded to that home numerous times in the past for incidents where Thomas Ryder was “physically aggressive and defiant with officers, including at least one incident involving knives/box cutters,” the report said.
On this day, the complainant and victim, age 77, alleged that Mr. Ryder became upset with her and began throwing her around the inside of the house, according to police. She said her right shoulder was sore but could escape the home, go outside, and contact 911. She told police she did not want medical attention but wanted Mr. Ryder to go for a medical evaluation, police said.
At the door of the home, police saw Mr. Ryder. They were unable to open the door as he was barricading it with his body, police said. A short time later, one officer convinced Mr. Ryder to open the door. Police immediately saw blood on his hands and ordered him to step out of the house.
Officer Sustains Broken Finger
Officers allege that despite multiple commands to exit the home, Mr. Ryder refused and continued standing in the doorway. One officer then took Mr. Ryder’s left hand and ordered him numerous times to put his hands behind his back. Mr. Ryder allegedly continued to resist, according to police. Police tried several additional times. Then, one officer warned that unless Mr. Ryder put his hands behind his back, an officer would deploy a Taser.
Mr. Ryder continued to resist, according to police.
During this struggle, Mr. Ryder allegedly began grabbing an officer’s belt while allegedly attempting to strike that officer in the head with his head, police said. Two officers tried to take Mr. Ryder to the ground to control him better, police said. As he went to the ground, one officer immediately stated that he had broken his finger.
Mr. Ryder, now on his back with only one hand handcuffed, allegedly continued to move around, trying to kick the other officer. Eventually, the police were able to restrain Mr. Ryder. They transported him to Franciscan Health in Olympia Fields for an evaluation.
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.
