On the morning of May 7, police nabbed an alleged television-remote-control-wielding robber that has been linked to two hold-ups of Jimmy John’s, 320 Circle Ave., in the last month.
Oscar Grissett, 38, of Chicago, was found hiding behind garbage cans in an alley near the 7400 block of Warren St. on the abovementioned date by a Forest Park police officer.
The officer that detained Grissett recalled that in the aftermath of an April 19 robbery of the sandwich shop, the suspect reportedly removed articles of clothing in a yard near Burkhardt Court – the general proximity of the store and Grissett’s hiding spot.
On his person, Grissett had a remote control for a television, a cordless telephone receiver, and a large “unkempt” amount of money in his pocket.
“He was using the remote control to imply that he had a weapon,” said Det. Jarlath Heveran.
Grissett was charged with armed robbery for the April 19 incident. He was also slapped with aggravated robbery charges for his alleged actions on May 7.
Officer injured in police chase
A 39-year-old St. Charles man attempted to elude Hillside Police and Forest Park police in the wee hours of May 6; however, the high-speed car chase that ensued resulted in the hospitalization of a Forest Park police officer.
Forest Park units joined Hillside authorities near the Desplaines Ave. exit of I-290 as they attempted to halt Thomas Noble’s fleeing vehicle. Noble was wanted out of Glen Ellyn for a hit-and-run.
Noble’s vehicle came to a halt after weaving up and down several streets and eventually striking a Forest Park squad car near the intersection of Circle Ave. and Harrison St. The officer in the vehicle sustained neck and shoulder injuries and was transported via ambulance to Loyola University Hospital. Although he informed police that he had not suffered any injuries, Noble was taken by ambulance to Oak Park Hospital.
Noble received a felony charge for attempting to flee and elude a police officer. He was also doled charges for failure to yield at a stop sign, operating an uninsured vehicle, DUI, reckless driving, damage to village property, and the violation of an Illinois vehicle code. Glen Ellyn police are investigating the hit-and-run incident.
Possession of drugs, driving with a revoked license
On the morning of May 6, Antonio Rodgers, 38, of Chicago was pulled over at the intersection of Desplaines Ave. and Roosevelt Rd. by an officer that observed him engaging in what appeared to be a narcotics transaction. The officer reported seeing a “known” drug user enter Rodgers’ car – then parked in the lot of the 7-11 convenience store at 7749 Roosevelt Rd. – and then exit after a short period of time. Subsequently, the officer pursued Rodgers’ vehicle and stopped it at the abovementioned intersection.
Rodgers was charged with having an instate warrant, possession of 30 grams or less of narcotics, and driving with a revoked license.
A caller informed police of four individuals drinking in a car in the Portillo’s parking lot at 7740 Roosevelt Rd. on the night of May 7. When an officer arrived and confronted the vehicle he reported seeing an open case of Mickey’s Fine Malt Liquor on the floor in the back of the car. The driver of the car was found to have 13 foil packets of heroin on his possession. James Holloman, 34, of Glen Ellyn, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance.
DUI
Jorge Merino, 30, of Melrose Park, was arrested and charged with DUI in the early morning of May 9. Merino allegedly led police on a slow chase east down Madison Street before turning south on Elgin and parking in a driveway.
Upon conducting field sobriety tests on Merino, officers arrested him and charged him with DUI.
These items were taken from the records of the Forest Park Police Department between May 2 and May 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 Nicholas Moroni
