Law and Order, Local Police Reports

Park Forest Police Blotter Reports Through September 8, 2019


Community Engagement Coordinator Rachel Wax and Records Clerk Brittani Barnett at Park Forest Police Department's new applicant orientation.
Community Engagement Coordinator Rachel Wax and Records Clerk Brittani Barnett are check-in applicants at Freedom Hall for the Park Forest Police Department’s new applicant orientation on October 15, 2019. (Photo: PFPD)

Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- These police reports include arrests through September 8, 2019. Charges during this time period include assault, criminal trespass to real property, and domestic battery.

Providing more details than readers will find in any other police beat reports, we invite readers to subscribe to get the whole story, every day.

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.

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 end up with 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.

Assault

Devonte I. Woodson, 18, 431 Lakewood Blvd., Park Forest, was arrested on September 5 and charged with assault and disorderly conduct after police were dispatched to the area of Rich Court and Westwood Drive to investigate a report of subjects allegedly shooting a BB gun at a person. The alleged victim identified Mr. Woodson as the person who allegedly pointed and shot the BB gun in his direction, according to police.

Criminal Trespass

Oscar Castaneda, 43, 2627 New St., Blue Island, was arrested on September 5 and charged with criminal trespass to real property and obstructing a police officer after police were dispatched to the 100 block of Indianwood Boulevard to investigate a report of a disturbance.

According to police, Mr. Castenada told them he went to the residence where police responded because his girlfriend lived there and he was trying to retrieve a cell phone that he had given to her. Mr. Castenada said he wanted the cell phone back because he believed that she was seeing other men, according to police.

While officers spoke with Mr. Castenada, they noted an odor of alcohol emanating from his breath, according to police. They also observed that his jeans were soaked. Mr. Castenada later allegedly told police that he had urinated himself earlier, according to police.

Domestic Battery

Deandre J. Gant, 25, 58 Indianwood Blvd., Park Forest, was arrested on September 8 and charged with one count of domestic battery after police were dispatched to the 3300 block of Western Avenue to investigate a report of a domestic disturbance.

When police arrived, one of the officers observed Mr. Gant allegedly grab the left arm of a woman who had just pushed him away from her, according to police. The officer observed that the alleged victim displayed signs of difficulty breathing, was eight months pregnant, and related that she had been “smacked,” according to the report.

Park Forest Fire Department Paramedics tended to the alleged victim, according to the report.


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