A man who told police he had been stabbed in the chest by his wife was charged with aggravated battery after authorities questioned the woman and learned she was allegedly defending a grandchild from harm.

According to a department report on the July 30 incident, police were called to an apartment building at 7301 Circle Ave. shortly before 6:30 p.m. There Earnest Bryant was seen outside of a nearby bowling alley. Bryant, 57, was bleeding from a stab wound to the chest, but was lucid enough to tell police his wife was responsible for the injury. According to statements taken by police, Bryant said he provoked his wife by insulting her granddaughter.

Bryant was taken to a nearby hospital and authorities located the woman in River Forest where she was apparently willing to speak with investigators. The woman and two granddaughters were taken to the Forest Park Police Department for questioning. One of the children allegedly told police that Bryant had assaulted her and called her names.

“He jumped on me, he was all drunk and high and started calling me a dumb ass,” the girl allegedly told police. “My grandmother told him to be quiet, but he started to hit me.”

Bryant then turned his attention to his wife, according to the girl’s statement, at which time one of the grandchildren brought the woman a steak knife that was used to stab Bryant. Investigators ruled the stabbing an act of self defense. The mother of the grandchildren pressed charges against Bryant.

Third time results in felony charge

A Forest Park man with prior convictions for driving on a suspended license was arrested July 29 for the same offense. According to a department report, Corey Brooks, 28, was spotted shortly before 10:30 p.m. on the 1000 block of Dunlop Avenue. Brooks allegedly told police he knew his license had been revoked, but his girlfriend was sick and he was going to the store.

“You could give me a break,” Brooks allegedly told police.

Brooks was arrested in August 2007 for reckless homicide involving a motor vehicle and since that time has been convicted twice for driving on a suspended license, according to police. He was charged with a felony because of the previous convictions.

Expired plates lead police to drugs

An Arlington Heights man stopped by police for driving with expired license plates wound up facing drug charges after police allegedly discovered several grams of heroin in the car.

Justin Wolff, 27, stopped his car along the 600 block of Harlem Avenue shortly before 5 p.m. on July 29 and as the officer approached the car, Wolff allegedly was trying to dump the drugs. Inside the car police found most of the contents of a plastic bag on the floor mat. Inside the suspect’s waist band were five more packages of heroin, according to police.

Under questioning at the police station, Wolff allegedly told authorities he had stopped using drugs for three years, but started up again only two weeks ago. He said he has been making regular purchases from a dealer in Oak Park near the corner of Washington Boulevard and East Avenue. Wolff was charged with a single felony count of possession of a controlled substance.

Search yields heroin, crack

At the corner of Lexington and Elgin streets, a police officer spotted a car parked behind a Thomas Avenue garage at about 12:30 a.m. July 31. The vehicle was registered in Chicago, according to a report, and the officer grew suspicious that a burglary might be underway.

As he approached the car, the officer saw the driver lean toward the center console, according to a department report. The driver, 35-year-old Lenny Media, gave vague answers to the officer’s questions and continued to make furtive movements. A subsequent search of the car revealed two bags, one with 17 smaller packages of heroin and another with four packages of crack cocaine, according to police.

Media was arrested and authorities determined there were roughly 6 grams of narcotics in the car. Media was charged with felony drug possession.

Busted bike leads to arrest

Shortly before 8 p.m. on Aug. 1, police spotted 39-year-old Tony McCallum of Forest Park pushing a busted bicycle through an alley in the 7400 block of Harrison Street. Because of a number of garage and vehicle burglaries, authorities were suspicious and asked McCallum who the bike belonged to. The suspect allegedly told police he had found the bike in the garbage, but could not state precisely where.

“At this point he began sweating uncontrollably and began acting very nervous,” police said of the suspect in an arrest report.

McCallum was searched on the scene and police allegedly found two pipes commonly used to smoke crack cocaine in his pockets. A third pipe allegedly turned up while police were processing McCallum at the station.

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 27 and Aug. 1, 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