Police reported three more instances of graffiti last week, two of which they suspect were gang-related or gang wannabes, adding to what has become a growing problem in town in recent weeks.

One of the incidents was reported at 7501 Industrial Drive by employees of the Weinstein Meats facility. According to a police report, two tags were found with the letters MLD which they suspect were painted by members of the Maniac Latin Disciples gang.

Another tag was found on the rear of the north-facing stop sign on the west side of Elgin Avenue at 14th Street. This tag featured a “stylized A,” which police believe is the work of the Ambrose street gang. Another Ambrose tag was found on an electronic parking meter, also on 14th Street, east of the Marengo and Elgin alley.

Two more tags were reported on CTA trains at the CTA yard on Harlem Avenue, but police reported that those tags appeared to be more artistic than gang tags.

In mid-April, graffiti which police suspect was the work of Latin Kings gang members was found on the 800 block of Beloit Avenue, the 1500 block of Harlem Avenue, the 900 and 1100 blocks of Lathrop Avenue and at six locations at the park district site at 7501 Harrison St.

Police Chief James Ryan said he is not sure if the tags indicate a feud between the gangs that have been tagging in town.

“I don’t know if those two gangs are in rival factions, and I also don’t know if these are just wannabe kids who are just tagging,” he said. “We haven’t really experienced much of a gang problem here in the past, which makes me think they might be wannabes.”

Disorderly conduct arrest
at PADS office

James Bracey, 58, of Peoria, was arrested on May 15 after sneaking into the West Suburban PADS office at 816 Marengo Ave.

A PADS employee told police that Bracey arrived at the office asking to meet with a specific employee, and when told that an appointment would be needed, became irate and began using vulgar language.

The employee saw a lawyer who was scheduled for a meeting, and when he opened the door for the lawyer, Bracey snuck in.

He ignored requests to leave, but eventually left when he found that the employee he wanted to meet with was not in. Officers Andrea Caines and Bob Biel found him outside the PADS building, and he was arrested for disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing.

Intoxicated woman causes
disturbance at apartment building

Karen Thomas, 54, of Broadview was arrested on May 14 after residents of an apartment building on the 500 block of Desplaines Avenue reported a disturbance.

Officers Ken Gross and Fran Marroco found Thomas on the first floor of the building, and noticed that the building’s stairs were covered with food debris and ashes. Police report that Thomas seemed impaired, as she smelled like alcohol and was speaking nonsense with slurred speech.

A resident of the building told officers that Thomas had been ringing doorbells to his and other apartments. He said he had warned her to leave the building on several previous occasions.

She was charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct.

Drunk man arrested on el train

Officers Ken Gross and Harold Grimes responded to a report of a man who was refusing to exit a CTA train that had arrived at the Blue Line’s last westbound stop in Forest Park on May 16.

When the officers were able to awaken Michael D. Jackson, 37, of Woodstock, he appeared intoxicated. A partially empty pint of vodka was at his feet, while a partially empty 40-ounce bottle of Budweiser was on a seat next to him.

He finally agreed to leave the train, swearing as he exited.

He was taken to an eastbound el car, and police waited to ensure that he could ride the train without causing a further disturbance.

First, he indicated that he needed to urinate, and officers stopped him from doing so on the train. Soon, he again began yelling and swearing, telling police to step off the train and alarming passengers on board, according to a police report.

After he was told that he would be arrested unless he calmed down, he got off the train, placed his hands behind his back, and told officers to “arrest me,” which they did.

He was charged with disorderly conduct.

These items were taken from the records of the Forest Park Police Department between May 13 and May 19 and represent only a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in this report has only been charged with a crime. The cases have not yet been adjudicated.

“Compiled by Seth Stern