Law and Order, Local Police Reports, Park Forest

Pharmacy Tech. Charged with Theft: Police Reports Through Feb. 18, 2019


Officer Vanessa Gauna, Park Forest Police, PFFD, theft
A smiling Officer Vanessa Gauna pictured in February 2019. (Photo: PFPD)

Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- These police reports include arrests through February 18, 2019. Charges for those arrested include a DUI, possession of cannabis, and two incidences involving theft charges, one where the alleged offender turned herself in at the police station on an old warrant.

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.

Turns Self In: Theft

Cheryl L. Green, 60, 7341 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, walked into the Park Forest Police station on February 14 to turn herself in on a 2010 arrest warrant charging theft. An officer responded to the station, placed Ms. Greene into custody, and placed her in a holding cell once the warrant was verified. The officer read Ms. Greene her Miranda Warnings which she “knowingly acknowledged and waived,” according to the report.

Ms. Green stated that she was formerly a tenant at a residence in the first block of Apple Street. She said she moved from the residence in 2010. She said that when she moved she only left with the items that she owned and denied removing any of the appliances from the residence. The officer spoke with the original complainant who advised that she still wish to pursue charges regarding this incident.

Ms. Green was charged with theft with a court date set for April 2, 2019, at the Markham Courthouse. Ms. Greene posted bond on February 14, 2019.

Disorderly Conduct: No Arrest

Richard E. Ross, 37, 394 Bensley Ave., Calumet City, was given a municipal citation on February 14 charging disorderly conduct when police were dispatched to the 300 block of Merrimac Street to investigate a report of criminal damage to property.

The complainant, Mr. Ross’s ex-boyfriend, thought that Mr. Ross had slashed his tires since he saw that all four tires of his vehicle were flat. Mr. Ross allegedly told police that he did not slash the tires but had let the air out of the tires with a pen, according to police.

The complainant told police that he did not want Mr. Ross arrested but said that he would sign a municipal citation charging disorderly conduct. The complainant signed the citation and Mr. Ross was advised to not return to the property or the complainant would sign complaints charging trespassing, according to police.

Theft

Sarah A. Ordonez, 35, 1224 Park Ave., Chicago Heights, was arrested on February 14 and charged with theft when police responded to CVS Pharmacy, 1 Main Street, to investigate a report of theft. An officer spoke to a representative from CVS Pharmacy’s Loss Prevention who discovered that approximately 738 Tylenol 4 with codeine pills were missing from the pharmacy.

During the company’s investigation, they discovered that a pharmacy tech employee was working the same days the pills showed up missing from inventory, according to the report. The employee was identified as Sarah Ordonez, according to the report.

Ms. Ordonez was detained until police arrived. Ms. Ordonez provided the representative from the company with a written statement where she allegedly admitted to taking the medication, according to police.

The responding officer arrested Ms. Ordonez and transported her to the Park Forest Police Department. In an interview room, the responding officer read Ms. Ordonez her Miranda Warnings which “she knowingly acknowledged and waived,” according to the report.

Ms. Ordonez stated that on January 23, 2019, she was shoveling snow outside her residence when she slipped on some ice and fell on her back/tailbone. Ms. Ordonez suffered severe back pains after the fall but stated she could not afford to go to the hospital because she did not have health insurance and could not afford to get health insurance, according to police. So, on January 25, 2019, Ms. Ordonez decided to self-medicate by allegedly taking six Tylenol 4 pills with codeine, according to police.

Ms. Ordonez allegedly stated that she removed for additional pills from the medicine bottle to take before going to bed for the evening. On January 28, Ms. Ordonez allegedly removed another six pills and again medicated herself throughout the day. She then allegedly took two additional pills home to take before going to bed, and on January 29 she allegedly took two additional pills. After taking the final two pills, Ms. Ordonez said that she stopped taking the Tylenol because she knew what she was doing was wrong.

Ms. Ordonez was charged with theft and assigned a court date of

Possession of Cannabis: No Arrest

Mark D. Reynolds Jr., 18, 577 Homan Ave., Park Forest, was issued a municipal citation charging possession of cannabis after police responded to Rich East High School where a juvenile student of the high school was allegedly in possession of edible cannabis treats. While at the school, the officer was apprised of another student who possessed edible cannabis treats that he allegedly received from the juvenile, according to police.

The other student, Mark Reynolds, was seated in a Dean’s office. Mr. Raynolds was removed from class and brought to a security office where the liaison officer searched him and found a sealed plastic bag in his pocket with various colored gummy candies. The package was labeled “Sour Patch Kids” and said “Indica Strain,” which, according to police, was one of the two major types of cannabis plants used for relaxation. Mr. Reynolds also had to tinfoil-wrapped cookies which Mr. Reynolds allegedly said also contained THC, according to police.

Since Mr. Reynolds had no criminal history, he was not arrested but instead issued the municipal citation charging possession of cannabis. He also was subject to discipline from the school administration, according to the report. He was then released from the school by the school administration since the time for dismissal had passed.

DUI

Anthony V. Pascale, 31, 245 Marquette St., Park Forest, was arrested on February 14 and charged with DUI-alcohol, DUI-alcohol over .08, no proof of insurance, improper lane usage, and speeding.

An officer on patrol observed a silver 2013 Hyundai Elantra allegedly driving at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was allegedly traveling at 57 miles per hour in a 35 miles per hour zone. The officer curbed the vehicle at Western Avenue and the CN Railroad tracks after the vehicle allegedly crossed over the curbside lane almost off of the roadway, according to police.

Upon speaking with the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Anthony Pascale, the officer could smell a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from Mr. Pascale’s breath.

Mr. Pascale related that he had just woken up and had not had anything to drink for several hours. After he was unable to provide a valid insurance card, the officer requested that Mr. Pascale step out of his vehicle to conduct Standard Field Sobriety Tests, and Mr. Pascale complied.

“After displaying clear indications of intoxication during the SFSTs,” according to the report, the officer placed Mr. Pascale in handcuffs and transported him to the Park Forest Police Department. His vehicle was towed and later seized under local ordinance.

After a 20 minute observation at the station, the officer administered a breath test to Mr. Pascale which indicated a Blood Alcohol Content of .234, according to police. Mr. Pascale was charged and later issued an I-Bond, given copies of the Warning to Motorist, the tow sheet, a breath test receipt, and given a ride to his residence.

Violating an Order of Protection

Terrell D. Young-Rushing, 20, 224 Diane Lane, Bolingbrook, was arrested on February 15 and charged with violating an order of protection and obstructing a peace officer after police were dispatched at 4:14 AM to the 100 block of North Arbor Trail to investigate a report of a domestic dispute. The caller reported hearing breaking the glass from inside the apartment.

When police arrived, neither a woman inside nor Mr. Young-Rushing would open the door, according to police. Police advised that they wanted to make sure everyone was okay but they refused to open the door.

The caller said that she heard yelling and arguing inside the apartment, and at one point she heard a woman state, “That’s why you’re bleeding.”

Officers continue to knock on the door saying that they wanted to make sure the occupants were okay and uninjured. At 4:50 AM due to what police determined were emergency circumstances and the possibility of one of the subjects being injured and bleeding, police tried unsuccessfully to gain entry into the apartment using a prybar. They then requested that a maintenance keyholder unlock the door. At 5:45 AM, maintenance arrived on the scene with the key. Officers tried to use the key to open the door with negative results.

Police then advised the people inside that they were going to ram the door and that they should move away from the door.

Upon entering, police observed a woman and Mr. Young-Rushing standing in the living room area. The woman walked away from the police, went towards a bed, and lay down in it next to her child. Mr. Young-Rushing allegedly refused to tell officers what had occurred and yelled at the officers, according to police. Police asked SouthCom Dispatch to check Mr. Young-Rushing’s name in LEADS and discovered that he had an order of protection issued against him out of the state of Indiana and the woman was the protected party. The order was valid and had no expiration date, according to police. The order required that Mr. Young-Rushing have no contact with the woman, her residence, and her property, and restrained him for making any communication with her, including in person.

Police arrested Mr. Young-Rushing on suspicion of violating the active order of protection and also on suspicion of obstructing a peace officer.

Police observed that Mr. Young-Rushing had cuts and scratches on his right forearm and on his left-hand knuckles.

He was processed and charged with violating an order of protection and obstructing a peace officer and held pending transport to the Will County Adult Detention Facility for a bond hearing, according to police.


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