Forest Park Police Chief Jim Ryan re-released a photo of an unidentified person-of-interest in the unsolved murder of David Howard Carlson who was shot in his garage Dec. 20, 2007 in the 500 block of Hannah Avenue.

Police speculate Carlson was the victim of a random robbery. He was found bleeding from his head. Carlson’s cell phone had been stolen. Police said the phone was used later that night and found by three bystanders on a CTA Red Line train.

Cook County Crime Stoppers offers up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for this crime. Call the hotline at 1-800-535-STOP (7867) or the Forest Park police at 708-366-2425.

Coatless 7-year-old carries mom’s vodka bottle

Police responded to reports of an intoxicated pedestrian with a small child in the 100 block of S. Harlem Ave. at 1:40 a.m. Dec. 15. Edna L. Brown, 33, of Chicago, was allegedly seen staggering and came close to falling into the roadway with the child, according to reports. The responding officer observed the child, age 7, wore a very thin fleece sweater. He was shivering and told the officer he was very cold. The wind chill was 25 degrees. The child was placed in a squad car to warm up. A plastic bag carried by the child contained an empty bottle of Svedka Vodka and a bottle of fruit juice. The officer summoned an ambulance for Brown and she allegedly swung a closed fist, narrowly missing the officer’s face. Brown was handcuffed and brought to the station. The child told the officer his uncle lived on Circle Avenue. Brown registered a blood alcohol content of .329, more than four times the legal limit of .08. Brown was charged with public intoxication, endangering the health and life of a child and aggravated assault. Officers contacted the Department of Child and Family Services. Brown has a court date of Feb. 14, 2012, at the Maybrook Courthouse.

Have syringe will travel

Brain M. Farwell, 28, of Forest Park was observed in the Thornton’s gas station parking lot in the 600 block of S. Harlem Ave. carrying a sign that read “Travelin broke and hungry” on Dec. 18 at 5:29 p.m. An officer recognized Farwell and performed a safety pat-down allegedly finding a used hypodermic syringe in Farwell’s right front pocket. Farwell told officers he used the needle to inject heroin. He was charged with one count of sale/delivery of drug paraphernalia.

Aggressive panhandling

James D. Connelly, 46, of Melrose Park, was arrested at the Dunkin Donuts, in the 7200 block of Circle Ave. at 4:15 p.m. on Dec. 12 for allegedly soliciting money from passersby. The arresting officer reported that Connelly appeared intoxicated, tried to pull away and allegedly resisted entering the squad car. He was transported to the Forest Park police station where he was charged with solicitation and resisting/obstructing an officer.

Residential burglary

Someone broke into a garage in the 1100 block of Ferdinand between 11:30 a.m. Dec. 8 and 2 p.m. Dec. 12 via the side service door. Stolen were a man’s silver and black Walmart mountain bike, Black and Decker lawn tools and a Porter cable air compressor. Total loss was reported at $550.

Shoplifting

Thomas Woods, 35, of Gary, Ind., was arrested at CVS, 7216 Circle Ave., on Dec. 13 at 5:44 p.m. after staff witnessed him stuffing $70.95 worth of Pepcid antacids into his coat sleeve. Because of a prior shoplifting conviction, Woods was charged with felony retail theft.

DUI

Gerardo Vazquez, 43, of Cicero, was stopped by police at 5:14 a.m. on Dec. 16 after officers witnessed his white 2002 GMC van allegedly crossing and re-crossing the yellow line travelling eastbound on Roosevelt Road at Des Plaines Avenue. Vazquez failed field sobriety tests and was taken to the Forest Park station where he blew a blood alcohol content of .153, almost twice the legal limit of .08, into the breathalyzer. Because of a prior arrest for driving without a license, Vazquez was charged with aggravated DUI.

Battery

Frederick McCulloch-Burton, 22, of Oak Park, was arrested after a fistfight at Submarine Tender restaurant on Des Plaines Avenue at 1:20 a.m. on Dec. 17. McCulloch-Burton allegedly was intoxicated and called patrons racial insults. When police arrived, McCulloch-Burton allegedly resisted being placed in the squad car, and was uncooperative at the police station. He was charged with one count of battery, reckless conduct, disorderly conduct and obstructing justice.

These items were obtained from the records of the Forest Park Police Department from Dec. 12 – 19 and represent a portion of incidents to which the police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anyone named in the reports has only been charged with a crime.

-Compiled by Jean Lotus