My parkway, not your trashcan
A Forest Park police officer found two Chicago residents drinking beer and throwing the cans out the window of their 2002 Dodge Caravan around 6 a.m., Sept. 9, in the 1000 block of Troost Avenue. The male and female passengers of the van told the officer they had parked there so they could talk. The officer observed open containers of alcohol in the van. He instructed the man, age 25, to exit the van and pick up all the empty beer cans from the parkway, which he did. The officer issued a citation to him for open alcohol. The two were sent on their way with a “caution not to return and use Forest Park as their personal garbage can or public tavern,” reports said.
Midnight mulleted tazing
A woman in the 800 block of Elgin Avenue called police after being awakened by a male voice screaming for help outside her home around midnight, Sept. 12. When she looked out her window, she saw a man lying on the ground and two males, one with a “mullet” haircut, quickly walking away southbound on Elgin. The witness told police she heard the sound of a stun-gun go off and could smell a strong odor of ionized air.
Police found the victim on a back porch in the 800 block of Harlem. He told them he was walking his dog and was talking on his cellphone when he was attacked from behind. He told police an unknown man ran up behind him and struck him in the back of his head with a Taser. He was knocked to the ground and the offenders continued to batter him, striking him in the face and mouth. The victim showed police the back of his neck, where the officer observed “red striations typically associated with an electrical stun device.” The victim declined medical attention and said nothing was taken from him and that offenders did not say anything before or during the attack. The victim could not provide further descriptions of the attackers.
Bike stolen from CTA terminal
A secured Cannondale mountain bike was removed from the bike rack at the Blue Line CTA terminal at 711 Desplaines between 3:30 and 11:30 p.m., Sept. 9. The value of the bike was not reported.
Barking dog, burglar within
A man in the 1300 block of South Harlem Avenue called police, the morning of Sept. 12, because his neighbor’s dog was loose and the back door of her home was pried open. Police arrived and discovered the back door jamb of the neighbor’s house had been pried open and the door was ajar. The man said the neighbor’s pet boxer was outside in the backyard barking and when he saw the broken door, he looked inside and then heard footsteps and summoned the cops. Police found the house ransacked, but the owner said she could find nothing missing.
Unwanted passenger
A victim told police she observed an unknown man sitting in the driver’s seat of her car rummaging through the vehicle in the 1300 block of Harlem Avenue, the evening of Sept. 15. Change was missing from the vehicle, she said.
Merchandise in Walmart bags
Forest Park police charged a 59-year-old Chicago woman with retail theft over $300 after she was observed by Walmart security agents selecting items off the shelves, then hiding them in other parts of the store, then allegedly placing them in outdated Walmart bags and attempting to leave the store on Sept. 13. The security guard said the woman hid her merchandise in “old” Walmart bags, no longer used by the chain. Inside the bags were bedding items, a wi-fi device, numerous hygiene items, a portable DVD player, a pink roller bag, bleach, blankets, some rugs and a mousepad. The merchandise was valued at more than $500, according to Walmart personnel.
Shoplifting, family-style
A 30-year-old Cicero woman was arrested at Walmart, 1300 Desplaines Ave., Sept. 15, after a loss-prevention agent observed the woman and her four children, age 6, 8, 9 and 14 allegedly shoving merchandise into bags at the self-checkout without scanning the items. The total value of the stolen items was $91.88.
Failing to yield
A 27-year-old Brookfield man driving a 2002 Chevrolet was given a local citation for failing to yield as a pregnant woman and her young daughter were in the pedestrian crossing at Circle Avenue and Madison Street at 4 p.m., Sept. 13. The driver told police he thought he was going too fast to stop.
Laundromat dryer catches fire
Police were summoned to the Laundry Room, 206 Desplaines Ave., after witnesses, around 8:20 a.m., Sept. 14, observed black smoke pouring out of the open doors and flames coming out of a dryer. Occupants from the surrounding businesses were evacuated. Fire trucks from North Riverside and River Forest assisted Forest Park personnel in extinguishing the flames. A woman’s work clothes were in the dryer.
Auto theft
A blue 2012 Honda Civic CRX was removed from the 7500 block of Jackson Boulevard, overnight Sept. 13-14. No value was reported.
Auto burglaries
A woman who parked her secured 2010 BMW in the 500 block of Desplaines Avenue around 6:30 p.m., Sept. 13, said she came out to her vehicle about 9:30 p.m. and found the doors open and a Blackberry phone and iPad missing from the back seat.
A 2004 Dodge pickup was broken into in the 600 block of Beloit Avenue between 10 p.m., Sept. 13, and 2 a.m., Sept. 14. Removed were a bag of new baby clothes and a gift receipt.
These items were obtained from the records of the Forest Park Police Department, Sept. 9-15, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anyone named in the report has only been charged with a crime.
