Reginald Perry, 22, and 21-year-old Willie Miller, both of Chicago, were arrested on the night of Sept. 3, outside of Wal-Mart, 1300 Desplaines Ave, following a blundered attempt to steal a computer valued at $898.

A security guard contacted police while he watched, on surveillance video, Miller and Perry carry a packaged Hewlett-Packard Touch Smart computer to the Home and Garden outdoor section of the store, where Miller allegedly placed the computer over the fence. 

Police were quickly dispatched, and an officer was already on-scene as Miller and Perry were leaving one end of the parking lot to re-enter the rear (by the Home and Garden section) to retrieve the computer.

Miller and Perry were arrested and taken to headquarters, where Miller was charged with one count of felony retail theft, due to the cost of the item, and Perry was charged with having the instate warrant.

Retail theft

Fifty-one-year-old Chicago resident David Duncan was arrested for attempting to steal $70.42 worth of pain medicine and a magazine from Ultra Foods, 7520 Roosevelt Rd., on the afternoon of Sept. 10. A surveillance video captured Duncan, on two different occasions within a short period of time, stuffing Advil containers into his pockets; and, then, trying to conceal a magazine “on his person” before exiting the store without paying for the items. A security guard apprehended Duncan at the door, and he was held in a security office until police arrived, at which point he was arrested. During a police interview at headquarters he stated that a “bad” heroin addiction provoked him to steal the items because he needed the money. Duncan received a felony charge of retail theft.

Driving with a revoked license

After he was stopped for a minor traffic violation on the 8200 block of Roosevelt Rd. on Sept. 3, police discovered that Travis Hurd, 33, of Bellwood, was driving on a license that had been suspended for DUI. Initially, Hurd claimed he was “riding on tickets” when he was asked to submit his license and proof of insurance. Hurd then offered a false name, but the officer was able to ascertain the suspect’s identity through a computer search, which also revealed that his driving privileges are suspended. Hurd was arrested and, in addition to the aforementioned offense, he received a felony charge for aggravated driving with a revoked license, as well as misdemeanor charges for obstructing an officer, and for improper lane usage.

Criminal trespassing to a residency

Andy Gonzalez, 33, of Northlake, was arrested on the night of Sept. 3 after the resident of a home on the 7300 block of Franklin alerted a dispatched police officer to Gonzalez’s unwanted and unannounced presence on his property. The complainant reportedly found Gonzalez sitting on the steps next to an open basement door, after rummaging sounds caused the man to check on the area. Upon police arrival, Gonzalez was at the corner of Franklin and Marengo, and when he was halted for an interview, he repeatedly told police that he was waiting for his friend “Joseph the Brother,” at “Joseph’s house.” Gonzalez was charged with criminal trespassing to a residency.

DUI

On the night of Sept. 4, an off-duty Forest Park police officer called the police department to report a seemingly intoxicated driver. A police report stated that, based on the officer’s “training and experience,” he was able to ascertain signs of the driver’s alleged intoxication – striking the curb and crossing over the center line. Units from Forest Park and River Forest were dispatched and 39-year-old Alfredo Perez, of Chicago, was halted on Harlem and Ontario. After Perez admitted that he had been drinking too much, field sobriety tests were performed and the driver failed them all.  He was arrested and brought to the station, where, after submitting to a Breathalyzer, his blood-alcohol-content level registered at .223, far exceeding the legal limit of .08.

Jose Becerra, 28, of Northlake was stopped on Harlem and Pleasant early August 5, for reportedly driving erratically. When the reporting officer approached Becerra’s vehicle, Becerra provided his license but admitted to not having vehicular insurance. After the officer ran Becerra’s name through a computer, she learned that Becerra’s driving privileges are suspended; what’s more, she noticed that his speech was slurred and that his eyes were bloodshot. Becerra, who claimed he was coming from a party where he had only consumed four drinks because he had volunteered to assume the role of designated driver, was then asked to submit to field sobriety tests. After failing all of the tests, Becerra was placed into custody and taken to headquarters, where he agreed to submit to further toxicology tests – a Breathalyzer measured his blood alcohol content at .140. Becerra was charged with DUI, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, driving with a suspended license, and improper lane usage.

These items were taken from the records of the Forest Park Police Department between Sept. 5 and Sept.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 Nick Moroni