Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Editor’s Note: These police reports represent incidents through November 12, 2018. Charges for those cited in this time period include a DUI, retail theft. There is also a report of
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.
Sobbing Doesn’t Make the DUI Go Away
Charles R. Robinson, 53, 115 Hay St., Park Forest, was arrested on November 6 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, improper lane usage, failure to notify-property damage accident, operation of an uninsured motor vehicle, and illegal transportation of liquor by a driver.
An officer traveling eastbound on Indiana Street at 12:54 PM at the intersection of Orchard Drive heard a very loud crash behind her vehicle. The officer looked in her rearview mirror and saw a white 2014 Nissan Maxima off of the roadway, traveling eastbound on the parkway located on the north side of Indiana Street, west of Orchard Drive. The officer saw the Nissan continue back onto Indiana Street and proceed through the intersection of Orchard Drive, according to police.
The officer also saw a green sign, later identified as a Village-owned “Grand Illinois Trail Bike Route” sign lying on the grass where the Nissan had driven, according to police.
The officer pulled her squad over to the right curb and stopped, allowing the Nissan to pass her on the roadway. She then began to travel behind the vehicle, initiating a traffic stop as the vehicle turned right onto Berry Street. The driver, later identified as Charles Robinson, immediately exited his vehicle while wearing sunglasses. The report notes that the sky was overcast.
According to the report, Mr. Robinson closed the front driver’s side door, raised both of his hands into the air, and took a step back to the rear of his vehicle. The officer requested that Mr. Robinson get back inside his vehicle.
Mr. Robinson walked back to the front driver’s side door and turned completely around once, according to police.
The officer again requested that Mr. Robinson get back inside his vehicle and he complied.
The officer spoke with Mr. Robinson and informed him of the reason for the stop, that she saw his vehicle leave the roadway and strike a sign. The officer asked if Mr. Robinson was on his cell phone and he allegedly replied that he was. The report states that the officer immediately smelled a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from inside the vehicle. The report notes that Mr. Robinson displayed slurred speech and had bloodshot, glassy eyes, according to police. The officer observed an open can of Coors Light in the front center console cupholder, according to police.
In the presence of another officer who responded to the scene, the first officer conducted field sobriety tests with Mr. Robinson.
During one of the tests, Mr. Robinson “spontaneously began to cry and stated that he was ‘ashamed of himself,'” according to police. After the field sobriety tests, police transported Mr. Robinson to the Park Forest Police Department. While on the way to the station, Mr. Robin allegedly said, “I know I failed those tests,” according to police. Mr. Robinson also began to sob while in the rear of the vehicle, according to police.
Mr. Robinson refused to take a breath test. He was charged and assigned a court date of December 3 at Markham Courthouse. Police also provided him his vehicle impounded notice, tow sheet, and copies of his traffic citations. He was later released after posting $100 and his valid driver’s license for bond, according to police.
Search Warrant: Unlawful Use of a Weapon by a Felon
Roy W. Cooper, 21, 195 Washington St., Park Forest, was arrested on November 7 and charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and possession of a controlled substance after police executed a search warrant in the 100 block of Washington Street at 5:40 AM on November 7. Jashaun A. Johnson, 19, 195 Washington St., Park Forest, was also arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and the manufacturer/delivery of cannabis.
On November 4, a detective was monitoring social media and observed video of Roy W. Cooper allegedly pointing two handguns closely at the camera.
The detective saw the video on Mr. Cooper’s Snapchat account, according to police.
The detective observed Mr. Cooper allegedly holding two black pistols, and the detective knew that the handguns were real as the distinct rifling of the barrel could be easily viewed, according to police.
Another video depicted Jashaun Johnson allegedly holding a semi-automatic “tech nine” gun with an extended magazine, according to police.
The detective knew Mr. Cooper through prior police contacts, specifically a case from 2016 that involved in an armed robbery. Mr. Cooper was later arrested and convicted in connection with that armed robbery, according to police. The detective also knew Mr. Robinson in connection with a prior call from September 18, 2018.
On November 6, the detective prepared a complaint for a search warrant and the search warrant was executed on November 7 at 5:40 AM by members of the South Suburban Emergency Response Team (SSERT). Mr. Cooper and Mr. Johnson were located in the residence.
While executing the search warrant, police found a black Taurus G2s nine millimeter semi-automatic handgun loaded with seven live rounds, one of which was chambered; a clear plastic bag of suspect cannabis; and one green pill (suspect ecstasy). Police advised Mr. Cooper and Mr. Johnson that they were under arrest and they were transported separately to the Park Forest Police Department.
Police also found a black digital scale; a clear plastic bag containing approximately 3.5 grams of a green leafy substance, suspect cannabis; and a black gun magazine loaded with seven live nine millimeters rounds. At the police department, the detective learned that the recovered firearm had been reported stolen out of Hammond, Indiana on July 21, 2018.
Related: Dawn Raid on Washington St. Yields Stolen Firearm, Narcotics, 2 Arrests
Retail Theft
Nailah N. Owens, 18, 321 Miami St., Park Forest, was arrested on November 12 and charged with retail theft and obstructing identification after police were dispatched to a business in the 100 block of South Orchard Drive to investigate a report of retail theft.
SouthCom Dispatch related that a woman with braids in a ponytail, carrying a backpack, and wearing a burgundy coat allegedly stole candy and left the store going northbound, according to police.
An officer located a woman matching that description in the 200 block of Rich Street. She was later identified as Nailah Owens.
Ms. Owens allegedly provided a false name to the officer who found her, according to the report. She later allegedly admitted to stealing the merchandise from the store, according to police. An employee from the store positively identified her as the alleged offender, according to police.
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