A 15-year-old with whom the police are familiar “through numerous previous contacts” led authorities on a foot chase along the Eisenhower Expressway and across railroad tracks for no other reason than to have some fun, according to a department report. The juvenile, who was eventually caught, was charged with theft and released to his family.
According to police, the chase began Oct. 13 around 4 p.m. when an officer spotted the teen as he entered a Chicago Transit Authority platform on Circle Avenue through an exit-only doorway. When the officer approached, the teen jumped from the platform onto the tracks, running east with the officer in pursuit. He then climbed a concrete barricade and continued running east along the shoulder of the interstate before he was apprehended.
“While at the station, [the suspect] stated he ran from me because it’s ‘fun to run’ from the police,” a report on the arrest states.
The juvenile had only four points on his record, according to Cook County juvenile detention officials, which is not enough to make him eligible for the detention center, according to the report. The teen’s mother gave permission for him to be released to his older brother.
Pet owners ticketed at dog park
Two Oak Park dog owners were cited this month for bringing their unlicensed pets to the municipal park at Circle and Lehmer streets, according to police reports.
On Oct. 10, shortly after noon, an officer stopped by the park as part of an effort to increase patrols of the facility, and observed five people using the park. The offending pet owner was informed that they had 14 days to register the dog to avoid the fine, but would still be required to attend a Nov. 5 hearing at village hall.
Three days later during the early evening hours, another officer visited the park to check registrations and discovered one person to be in violation of local ordinances, according to a report. That person was also cited and advised not to return to the park without the proper licensing.
Traffic suspect runs for the river
A 22-year-old Bellwood woman received six traffic tickets and a charge of resisting arrest after prompting a manhunt when she fled the scene of a traffic stop, according to police.
Morgan Ann Thomas allegedly ran a red light Oct. 13 at about 8:30 a.m. at the intersection of Madison and Jackson streets. An officer patrolling the area spotted the infraction and pulled in behind the woman. Once Thomas stopped her car, the officer got out of his marked squad car and began walking to the driver’s window. When he was roughly 10 feet away, Thomas hit the gas and fled, according to a report.
The officer gave chase and radioed for backup, following the suspect onto a side street. She ditched the car, letting it roll forward into a street light, and ran toward the Des Plaines River, according to the report. Police found her hiding in some bushes along the water and took her into custody.
Once at the station, Thomas allegedly said she panicked because she’s already on probation for a drug charge, she was driving with expired plates and her license is suspended. She was also ticketed for reckless driving, running a traffic light and driving without insurance.
Man caught serving teens
Two 16-year-old boys were turned over to family members after the man they were riding in a car with, 25-year-old Eric L. Russell, was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
At about 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 11, Russell, a Maywood resident, was stopped near the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Hannah Avenue for having his car stereo too loud, according to a department report. While speaking with the occupants of the car, police allegedly noticed a bottle of green juice in the center console, and passengers kept reaching toward the floor and under their seat. With an extra officer on the scene, police recovered one bottle of the juice and allegedly found it to be mixed with alcohol. Under the driver’s seat, police found a half-empty bottle of gin, according to a department report.
Once in custody, Russell allegedly made several threats to beat the officer. He apologized for his behavior at one point, blaming it on his upbringing, according to police, and then later resumed his tirade. In addition to two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Russell was charged with a noise violation and an open container violation.
These items were taken from the records of the Forest Park Police Department between Oct. 9 and Oct. 18, 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
