Forest Park police arrested two men who reportedly had cocaine in their possession when their vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation on the 300 block of Harlem Avenue late June 11.
The driver, Clay Corely, a 28-year-old from Lake Geneva, Wis., and the passenger, Robert Balnis, 27, of Oak Park, both had three grams of cocaine on them when they were pulled over. A bottle of Goose Island 312 beer was also found on the passenger-side floor of the car.
Both were arrested and taken to headquarters. Corely was charged with possessing a controlled substance and speeding; Balnis was slapped with charges of possessing a controlled substance and transportation of alcohol.
Balnis refused to speak with police, but Corely agreed to talk to officers. During the interview, he reportedly told authorities he gave Balnis $160 to purchase cocaine for him. Corely said he uses cocaine every couple of months and planned on partying while in Forest Park, which he likened to “being in Vegas.”
Caught in the act
A Chicago man was arrested and charged with a felony for his alleged involvement in the residential burglary of a vacant home on the 500 block of Circle Avenue, early June 8.
Police were dispatched to the house following a call reporting a burglary. When the officers arrived, they formed a perimeter around the house and nabbed 51-year-old Gregory Daggs after he jumped to the ground from a second-story window.
Daggs was placed in custody and police contacted the owner of the residence, who said the home was vacant because it was being rehabbed. The owner also said he was missing several power tools, but they were not found in Daggs’ possession.
According to the police report, numerous items belonging to the homeowner that ranged from electronics to a nail file were found in the car Daggs’ said he was driving.
At the station, Daggs said he and another suspect who eluded police were involved in the attempted burglary and that the other suspect told him he did a painting job at the Circle Avenue residence and was not paid for his work, so he wanted to steal items from the home as compensation.
Daggs was charged with felony residential burglary, criminal trespassing and theft under $300.
Rear-ending under the influence
A Forest Park man was arrested late June 8 after he allegedly rear-ended a car while driving on Randolph Street near Rockford Avenue, then failed field sobriety tests.
Forty-nine-year-old Allen Pegues reportedly drove his car into another vehicle, then continued driving until the owner of the vehicle chased him down on foot. According to the police report, Pegues turned around and returned to the scene of the accident.
When police arrived, Pegues reportedly showed signs of intoxication, so field sobriety test were performed and he failed all of them. An opened can of Steel Reserve malt liquor was found in the car and Pegues’ license has been suspended since July 2007.
He was arrested and taken to headquarters where he submitted to a Breathalyzer test, which measured his blood-alcohol content at .331 – the legal limit is .08.
Pegues was charged with two counts of DUI and single counts of transportation of alcohol, driving without a valid license and a vehicle code violation.
Lights out for driver with lights off
Cathryn Stewart, 26, of Oak Park was arrested for DUI early June 9 after police stopped her on Harlem Avenue near Jackson Boulevard for a traffic violation, and she failed field sobriety tests.
The reporting officer first spotted Stewart driving with her lights off and halted her when her vehicle veered between two lanes at the aforementioned intersection’s stoplight.
While speaking with Stewart, the officer noted that her breath smelled of alcohol, so she was asked to perform field sobriety tests. After failing the tests, she was arrested and taken to headquarters where she submitted to a Breathalyzer; her blood-alcohol content registered .179, which is over the legal limit of .08
Stewart was charged with two counts of DUI and single counts of improper lighting, improper lane usage and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
Woman charged with theft has in-state warrant
Police arrested a 44-year-old Chicago woman who allegedly stole $195.61 worth of items from the local Walmart on the afternoon of June 6.
Utwalla Dunlap was reportedly seen by store security stealing various personal care items from the shelves of the 1300 Desplaines Ave. store and placing them inside two bags. She was detained until police arrived.
Dunlap was arrested and charged with retail theft and an in-state warrant, which police discovered after checking her ID.
These items were taken from the records of the Forest Park Police Department between June 6 and June 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
