Park Forest, IL-(ENEWSPF)- The nature of the report reads “10-32” at the top, “Man with a Gun,” according to the Official 10-Code List. The call started when an officer driving in the 300 block of Main Street at 1:38 AM came across a Kia Optima in a parking space in front of a home. The officer did not see a rear registration plate affixed to the vehicle so he exited his squad car and approached the vehicle from the passenger side to identify the vehicle identification number or front registration plate.
The officer noticed that the steering will column was peeled and the vehicle was occupied by at least one male subject who was later identified as Odegion H. Hill, 18, 244 110th Place, Chicago. The teen appeared to be sleeping inside the car, according to police.
The officer knew that Kia and Hyundai vehicles have been targeted in recent months as we and the police have reported.
The officer repositioned his squad car until additional officers arrived on the scene to assist. The first officer on the scene then moved his squad car back behind the Kia and he and another officer approached the car.
The first officer on the scene looked inside the front of the vehicle because the other windows were heavily tinted, according to the report. The officer then saw a semi-automatic handgun between the driver’s seat and center console pointing towards the roof of the vehicle, as if it was placed between the driver’s seat and center console by the driver, according to police. The handgun also had a red full-auto sear attached to it which is installed on semi-automatic handguns to convert them to fully automatic weapons, according to the report.
The officer drew his Glock 17 and pointed it in the direction of the driver, Mr. Hill, according to the report. Other officers approached the vehicle.
The officer who was pointing his Glock at the driver stood behind another officer who was using a ballistic shield. This officer “gave loud verbal commands” to Mr. Hill to keep his hands up or he would get shot, according to the report.
The officer with a ballistic shield next to the car opened the driver’s side door and Mr. Hill exited the vehicle, according to police. Police took him down to the ground because it was unknown if he was armed with additional weapons, according to the report.
Police took Mr. Hill into custody without incident, according to the report, and transported him to the Park Forest Police Department.
The first officer who had arrived on the scene recovered the handgun he had seen between the driver’s seat and center console which turned out to be a 9mm Glock 19 with a drum magazine and a full-auto sear attached to it. The clock had one round chambered and additional rounds inside the drum magazine, according to police. Police found an additional semi-automatic handgun on the front passenger seat, a .357 caliber Glock 33. The Glock 33 had one round chambered and an additional round in the magazine.
Another officer ran an inquiry on the Kia’s VIN and learned that the Kia had been stolen out of Chicago on January 3, 2023. Police also located the Illinois registration plate on the rear floorboard that was supposed to be affixed to the vehicle. One of the officers reattached the rear plate to the car.
Police found no vehicle keys for the car either inside the vehicle or on Mr. Hill’s person, according to the report.
Officers found that the Glock 19 had different serial numbers on different parts of the gun. The handle had one serial number, the slide had another, and the barrel had yet a third serial number, according to police.
Police determined that Mr. Hill did not possess an Illinois Firearm Owners Identification card or a concealed carry license, according to the report.
Mr. Hill was charged on January 14 with two felony counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (Class 4) and one felony count of possession of a stolen motor vehicle (Class 2). The handguns had not been reported stolen and were entered into the law enforcement database as recovered, according to police. Mr. Hill remained in a Park Forest Police Department holding cell pending transportation to a Cook County Courthouse for a felony bond hearing, 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.
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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.