A traffic stop on Madison Street brought several tense moments when the suspect began reaching into his jacket pocket, prompting the officer to draw his gun.
A police report on the Feb. 1 arrest of 28-year-old David Stennis of Chicago alleges that Stennis gave the arresting officer a false name after being pulled over along the 7800 block for speeding in a 25 mph zone. Stennis, who stands 6-feet 5-inches and weighs 250 pounds, also was unable to produce a driver’s license or other identification, according to the report.
While seated in a 2006 silver Mercedes-Benz, Stennis began reaching into his jacket pocket as the officer spoke to him.
“… I drew my weapon, grabbed his left arm and told him to slowly put his right hand where I could see it,” the Forest Park officer said in his report. “The interior of the vehicle was dark because of the tinted windows.”
An officer with the Cook County Sheriff’s department, who happened to be driving by the stop, assisted in handcuffing Stennis to the exterior door handle of the car until additional Forest Park units could arrive. Stennis was taken into custody without further incident, according to the report.
The report makes no mention of whether Stennis was carrying a weapon.
The vehicle’s registration and the vehicle identification number were not on file with the Illinois Secretary of State, according to the report. Once at the station, police were able to ascertain Stennis’ true identity. He allegedly said he was attempting to avoid being arrested on several outstanding warrants for failing to appear in court.
Forest Park police charged him with driving on a suspended license, speeding, driving without insurance and obstruction.
Stumbling suspect avoids traffic
A Maywood man was cited for public intoxication and disorderly conduct after police allegedly found him stumbling down the middle of Madison Street shortly before 10 p.m. on Jan. 31.
Aaron Hubbard, 33, was walking west along the 7300 block of Madison, yelling at cars and other pedestrians as they passed, according to police. When approached by authorities, Hubbard allegedly needed the assistance of a bench to stay on his feet, all the while continuing to yell. During the middle of a conversation with police, Hubbard began walking away from the officer and was almost struck by a passing vehicle, according to an incident report. He was promptly taken into custody.
Graffiti mars Madison Street
Several Madison Street businesses were struck by vandals during the last weekend of January when an unidentified suspect took a can spray paint to their facades.
Trage Brothers at 7440 Madison St., Joni & Friends at 7510 Madison, Grapevine Antiques at 7500 Madison, Little Treasure at 7502 ½ Madison and Prija Grocery at 7444 Madison were all struck sometime between 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 27 and 12 p.m. on Jan. 28. A police report on the defacements list two unknown suspects identified simply as “Orkid” and “Ringer.”
These items were taken from the records of the Forest Park Police Department between Jan. 27, 2007 and Feb. 5, 2007, 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 been adjudicated.
Compiled by Josh Adams
