A manager at Thorton’s Gas Station at 601 S Harlem Ave. contacted police officers July 9 to report suspicious subjects at the store. Upon arriving shortly after 7:40 a.m., officers observed Mark Bynum, 25, of Naperville, who matched the description given by the manager of Thorton’s. Officer’s walked to the car the Bynum was in and noticed him quickly sticking his hands in his pockets. There were two additional people in the car.

The officer began patting down the Naperville resident, at which point he noticed a small baggie with an off white powder fall to the ground, according to a department report. The driver of the car informed police that he was driving Bynum to a landscaping job and that they had parked the car in the lot because they had run out of gas. The fuel meter indicated the tank was approximately one-eighth full.

Bynum allegedly stated that he understood he was being arrested because he had a “diesel,” which officers determined to be slang for a $10 bag of heroin.

A felony charge of possession of a controlled substance against Bynum was filed.

Bar patron charged with battery

Forest Park officers responded to call at 11:34 p.m. on July 6, from Blueberry Hill at 427 Desplaines Ave. Police saw a women, later identified as Andrea Wienkowski, 21, of Forest View, crying.

Wienkowski allegedly stated that she had an argument with her boyfriend, but that he was not violent. However, as questioning continued, she reportedly changed her story and relayed that her boyfriend had pushed her up against the wall of the bar, which she said the bartender could verify. The bartender said that she did not see any contact between Wienkowski and her boyfriend. She was evasive during the remainder of questioning.

During this time, Wienkowski’s boyfriend arrived at the police station explaining that he had been battered by his girlfriend. More officers came to the 400 block of Desplaines Avenue to share the information. Wienkowski had allegedly grabbed her boyfriend by the throat and punched him several times in the face following an argument in their car, according to statements taken by the officers.

The Forest View resident was processed for one count of domestic battery.

Motorist reports stolen part

At 4:32 p.m. on July 5 Forest Park officers reported to the 1100 block of Hannah Avenue. A Forest Park resident informed police that when he came to start his car after having parked it on the block at 1 a.m. the night before, it was making unusual sounds. The victim observed the catalytic converter had been cut from 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Teens cited at underage party

Police arrived at the 1500 block of Marengo Avenue shortly before midnight on July 4 following reports of an underage drinking party. Officers allegedly observed three minors walking away from the squad car after seeing it pull up. The subjects finally stopped after being ordered to do so three times. All three reportedly informed police that they were walking home.

Officers allegedly smelled alcohol on the minors and asked each for identification. Each of the teens claimed to not have any form of identification. The first minor gave police a false name and then laughed as the other two provided their true identities, according to a department report. The minor who had given a false name was asked to step beside the squad car, at which point an officer noticed a wallet in the suspect’s back pocket. Upon trying to reach for the wallet the minor allegedly slapped the officer’s hand away. Officers eventually forced the teen to the ground to handcuff him.

The two other minors who had cooperated were released, according to a department report.

The hostess of the party – also a minor – was given a citation for illegal possession of alcohol. The boy who allegedly lied to officers and fought being arrested was processed for battery, illegal consumption by a minor, and two counts of resisting an officer.

Wayward trajectory

A Forest Park officer reportedly observed fireworks coming from the roof of a building on the 300 block of Harlem Avenue shortly before 10 p.m. on July 8. The policeman noticed a ladder that led directly to the place where the fireworks were being ignited, and as the officer walked to the ladder he narrowly escaped the flight of a bottle rocket that exploded within inches of his face. The officer then climbed the ladder and ordered the minor who was lighting the fireworks to stop.

The remaining bottle rockets were destroyed and the minor was given a citation for disorderly conduct.

Anyone with information regarding the cases mentioned in this report, or on another matter, is encouraged to contact the department’s hotline at (708) 615-6239. Information may be left anonymously.

These items were taken from the records of the Forest Park Police Department between July 4 and July 12, 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 Jacob Boyer