Police on the 1400 block of Harlem Avenue stopped a car for speeding on the night of March 17. A check of the plates showed they were registered to a 2007 Jeep.
Driver Rick R. Williams, 29, of Chicago, had a suspended license and police noticed “a strong odor of fresh cannabis” in the vehicle. A check of Williams’ name showed numerous narcotics arrests, including one in Chicago in 2010 for possession of over 100 grams of heroin.
The front-seat passenger, 22-year-old Taneshia T. Walker, of Chicago, appeared to have objects in her mouth when police spoke to her. She was asked to spit the items out; they proved to be three small baggies, apparently filled with cannabis. According to the report, Walker told police Williams gave her the marijuana found in her mouth. Both were arrested.
A search of Williams and the SUV recovered multiple stacks of U.S. currency in various denominations. A total of $3,520 was seized. Cell phones in the console went off continuously during the process. There were also two White Owl cigarillos, one partly burned, filled with pot.
Williams allegedly told police he has not worked in a year, but won all the cash “playing craps in Chicago on the street” and said the vehicle belonged to his cousin. Video footage of Walker while she was detained inside the squad car reportedly showed her answering her cell phone on speaker and telling an unknown female she was “in handcuffs because she had weed on her” and that Williams “has three stacks on him.”
Berwyn man arrested for DUI in stolen truck
An officer ran plates on a 1997 Ford pickup on Harlem Avenue at Madison Street last week, after discovering it was stolen from Stone Park. The officer then radioed for backup and followed the truck until it stopped for the red light at Jackson Boulevard.
When the officer approached the car, the driver reportedly tried to flee by “ramming the pickup between two vehicles” and driving directly at the officer. Driver and officer fought for control of the truck until more police arrived and arrested suspect Miguel A. Tapia, 27, of Berwyn.
Police reported Tapia smelled of alcohol and had a half-empty 40-ounce container of “Steel Reserve” beer between his legs. He was charged with possession of stolen property, DUI, aggravated assault, transportation of open alcohol, driving on a suspended license, fleeing and eluding police, resisting arrest, reckless driving and criminal damage.
Passenger Roberto Tapia, 43, Chicago, was also arrested. He initially provided a false name, a claim bolstered by a fraudulent Social Security card and US Permanent Resident card. Tapia was processed on a Chicago warrant and charged with criminal trespass, fraud and obstruction. The state’s attorney approved felony upgrades for both men. Homeland Security was notified, as well.
Naperville man charged with narcotic possession
Police stopped a Nissan station wagon at Harlem Avenue and Interstate-290 on the night of March 8 after it failed to signal a turn. The officer noticed the driver’s hands “shaking tremendously” and saw a hypodermic syringe near his foot.
Driver Paul M. Matises, 29, of Naperville, allegedly told police he had drugs in his sock. Police recovered a total of 47 bags of a powder which field-tested positive for heroin.
After hearing his Miranda rights, Matises signed a statement in which he admitted to a 10-bag-a-day heroin habit; he reportedly stated he bought three “jabs” for $300 from a man in Chicago earlier in the day.
Matises was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and failure to signal a turn.
High-sped chase ends in DUI charge for Westchester man
Police chased a car south on Harlem Avenue from Madison Street on the afternoon of March 18 after the sedan crossed the intersection at a high speed.
The car entered Interstate-290 and was finally pulled over five blocks east of Harlem Avenue.
The driver, Westchester resident Jonathan S. Aceituno, 27, reportedly had “a very difficult time keeping his balance” without police assistance, and had alcohol on his breath.
The BMW was impounded and Aceituno was charged with speeding, fleeing from police and driving under the influence.
These items were taken from the records of the Forest Park Police Department between March 13 and March 20, 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 Amy Malina
