A motorist stopped for driving after dark without his headlights on was charged with a felony after police learned his licensed was under suspension. Not typically a felony-level offense, Terry Bramlett, 46, has 15 prior convictions for driving on a suspended license, according to a department report.
Bramlett, a Chicago resident, was stopped shortly before 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 after a patrol unit spotted him driving along Madison. Initially, the officer flashed his high beams at Bramlett, indicating that he needed to turn his lights on. Bramlett didn’t get the hint, and when he turned north onto Elgin the officer pulled in behind him.
When asked for his license, Bramlett replied simply that he didn’t have it, according to police. While being processed at the station for driving on a suspended license, Bramlett allegedly said that he has been arrested numerous times for the offense. Authorities looked into the man’s claim and charged him with a Class 2 felony.
Alleged shoplifter faces felony
A woman who was convicted of theft just six months earlier was arrested Jan. 6 for allegedly swiping $36 worth of merchandise from the Kmart on Roosevelt Road.
According to a department report, 23-year-old Glyenann Harper, of Chicago, was seen stuffing winter clothing items into the sleeves of her coat by a store employee. After trying to leave the store, Harper was detained and the police were notified. Once in police custody, Harper allegedly told authorities that she did take the items, but that she is homeless and needed the clothes to stay warm.
Because of her previous conviction, Harper was hit with a felony theft charge.
Detail enables arrest
A motorist who was stopped for blowing through a stop sign at the intersection of Harrison and Ferdinand managed to avoid being ticketed when an officer pulled him over at about 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 6. A short time later, however, policed nabbed him on two, more serious charges.
When he was stopped for running the stop sign, 32-year-old Derrick Porter told police that he did not have his license on him, but that everything should check out OK. He gave his name as Bryan Dobbins, and a date of birth that was a decade off his actual birthday. Also during the stop, Porter told police he was headed to a stepping class on Harrison.
The investigating officer was not able to view a photo of “Dobbins,” according to a report, so the driver was sent on his way. Not too long after, though, police did find a photo and a criminal history for Porter. Knowing that he was still on Harrison, authorities waited outside the location and arrested Porter for driving on a suspended license and attempting to obstruct the police.
One sip too many
A 58-year-old Broadview resident was cited just after 10 a.m. on Jan. 7 for allegedly having an open bottle of gin in his pocket as he walked along Madison. A department report on the incident states that an officer watched as Terry Smith took a sip from the bottle before placing it his pocket.
“Man, I just got this and didn’t even get a sip off yet,” Smith reportedly said as an officer approached.
Not fleeing, looking for parking
An Elmhurst woman led police on a slow chase on the eastbound lanes of the Eisenhower after she was spotted pulling out of a gas station on Harlem without using her turn signal.
Shortly after 9 p.m. on Jan. 5, an officer reportedly watched as 25-year-old Jacqueline Navarro pulled out of the gas station at 601 Harlem and headed south toward the interstate. As Navarro began turning onto the on-ramp, the officer turned his lights on to pull her over, according to a department report. Navarro proceeded to the end of the ramp, at which time the officer started to use his horn and siren to get her attention.
While traveling at about 40 mph along the Eisenhower, the officer was told that if Navarro did not stop at the exit for Austin Avenue, to end the chase, according to a report.
At the exit for Central Avenue, Navarro pulled off the highway and into a parking lot where she stopped when the officer pulled in front of her. She allegedly put the car into reverse and was again blocked by the patrol car. She later claimed that she was trying to find a parking spot, according to police.
Inside the car, police allegedly found several syringes, a burnt spoon and that Navarro’s license had been suspended. She was charged with attempting to flee the police, driving on a suspended license, driving without insurance, having an expired registration and failing to signal.
These items were taken from the records of the Forest Park Police Department between Jan. 1 and Jan. 9, 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
