Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- A former Village Trustee was charged with DUI in early July. The man allegedly drove on Western Avenue at a speed of 62 mpg with the rear bumper of his car dragging on the street behind him. Mr. JeRome Brown served one term as a Trustee for the Village of Park Forest, elected in April 2013. He served one four-year term.
Police arrested JeRome Brown, 514 Blair St., Park Forest, on July 2 and charged him with driving under the influence of alcohol, aggravated speeding, no insurance, and improper bumper.
Report: Car Dragging its Rear Bumper
SouthCom Dispatch advised patrol units at 11:09 PM they received an emergency call regarding a white Lincoln sedan dragging its rear bumper northbound on Western Avenue. The Lincoln was traveling at approximately 60 mph, according to dispatchers.
The caller advised that the Lincoln was at Western Avenue and Hemlock Street. Two officers who were nearby saw a white Lincoln sedan traveling North on Western Avenue that matched the description the caller provided, according to police. According to the report, the Lincoln was dragging its rear bumper behind it.
One officer allegedly captured the vehicle on radar traveling 62 mph in a 35 mph zone, according to police.
Another officer conducted a U-turn and was able to catch up to the vehicle at Western Avenue and 26th Street, according to police. According to the report, that officer activated her emergency lights and curbed the car. Two other officers arrived on the scene to assist.
Police: Car Had “Extensive Damage” Besides the Bumper
Police say the Lincoln had extensive damage, including the rear bumper, which had fully detached from the vehicle’s body. It was being dragged by a small piece of plastic, according to police. Police also observed damage to the left front bumper and the right front bumper near the wheel and fender.
The car was covered in mud, grass, leaves, and “other outdoor debris,” according to police.
One of the officers approached the driver, later identified as JeRome Brown. Mr. Brown allegedly told the officer he was not doing good due to the condition of the car, according to police.
Police: Driver Doesn’t Know What He Hit
The officer asked what happened to his car. Mr. Brown allegedly said, “I hit something way back in another town, and I’m tryna [sic] to get back to the house,” according to the report. The officer asked Mr. Brown what he hit. He allegedly responded, “Ugh, I don’t, I have no idea,” according to the report.
According to the report, the officer began naming possibilities like backing into something or hitting another object. Mr. Brown then said, “I backed into something. I got out of my car to see what it was, but I didn’t see anything,” according to the report.
The officer then asked for Mr. Brown’s driver’s license. According to the report, Mr. Brown told the officer he did not have his driver’s license but provided his name. When the officer asked his date of birth, Mr. Brown continued to state, “Brown, Brown,” according to police. The officer asked two more times what his birthday was. Mr. Brown “took a few seconds to remember before providing said information,” according to the report.
The reporting officer said that Mr. Brown “had a distinct slur and was slow to answer basic questions,” according to the report.
Driver Allegedly Admits to Drinking 3 Beers
The officer returned to her patrol vehicle to conduct a name inquiry. She learned that Mr. Brown did have a valid driver’s license. When she returned to the car, she learned that another officer had asked Mr. Brown if he had been drinking. Mr. Brown allegedly admitted that he had been, according to the report. Police asked Mr. Brown how much he had to drink, and he reportedly said that he had three beers, according to the report.
Driver Takes Field Sobriety Tests
Mr. Brown agreed to take Standard Field Sobriety Tests. After the tests, police informed Mr. Brown they were arresting him on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Police placed him in handcuffs and secured him into the rear of a squad vehicle.
At the Park Forest Police Department, Mr. Brown allegedly refused to submit to a breathalyzer, according to the report. Police released him at 1:25 AM on an Individual Bond, according to the report.
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.
Police captured all the incidents in this report on body-worn and dash-mounted cameras by officers at the respective scenes, according to police. 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.
