Forest Park police observed a red 2013 Nissan Altima changing lanes at a high rate of speed as it traveled northbound on Harlem Avenue around noon, Jan. 30. The driver, age 38, of Forest Park, appeared nervous, police said, when pulled over with shaking hands and mumbling voice. He reportedly told police his car was damaged, so his girlfriend had rented the Nissan. According to the report, the driver, Shannon Jefferson, had no valid driver’s license and was not listed as a secondary driver on the car rental agreement. As the car smelled of cannabis, police received permission to search the vehicle. They recovered a straw with powdery residue on it and a toilet paper roll taped at the bottom and filled with dryer sheets. This device is used to “suppress the strong odor of exhaled cannabis smoke,” the report said. Police also recovered a pink backpack from the Nissan’s trunk, which contained a black semi-automatic Hi Point 9mm Luger pistol. They also recovered ammunition. Jefferson, reportedly an admitted Gangster Disciple, was charged with felony unlawful possession of a weapon and for being an “armed habitual criminal.”
Chevy turns up in Chicago
A 2011 Red Chevy Equinox went missing from Curry Motors in the 8400 block of Roosevelt Road sometime after Jan. 9. Dealership staff didn’t realize it was gone until Chicago police told Forest Park officers it had been involved in an unspecified crime in Chicago. Inventory confirmed both the Chevy and the keys were missing. The dealership did not immediately know which employee, if any, had removed the car.
‘Trying to fight an old guy’
Police were summoned to Dunkin Donuts in the 7600 block of Madison Street to remove a male subject who was allegedly disturbing other customers. As they entered the shop, they ran into a departing customer who said the troublesome customer was “trying to fight an old guy.” Inside, officers encountered a 24-year-old Bolingbrook man who had a small folding knife attached to his belt loop via a D-ring. When asked, the man said he was planning to buy food, but police told him the store owners wished him to immediately leave. The officers performed a safety pat-down and recovered 1 gram of cannabis in a baggie from the man’s pocket. He was charged with possession of cannabis and given a local ordinance citation.
Pricey earphones disappear
A man told police he lost a pair of ALO audio Fit Ear To Go 334 earphones when they disappeared from the dashboard of his 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which he left for service at the Hawk Dodge dealership, overnight Jan 29-30. He also reported a handful of change and a cable for the same headphones allegedly worth $279. The assistant manager of the dealership told police he would check surveillance video to see if he could identify anyone taking objects from the car.
Underage drinkers nabbed at Slainte
Police performing a premise check at Slainte, 7505 Madison St. around 12:30 a.m., Jan. 31, found three underage male drinkers from Oak Park, River Forest and Oak Lawn who had entered the bar after allegedly producing false IDs. Police confiscated the fake IDs and sent the men home with local ordinance violations for underage drinking and misrepresentation of age by a minor.
Ford vs. pole
Police responded to a call that a car had just struck a pole at Randolph and Elgin around 3:20 a.m., Jan. 31. They observed a 2012 grey Ford Focus, driven by a 20-year-old River Forest man. Police chased the Focus the wrong way down several one way streets until they finally stopped the car in the 100 block of Marengo. The driver jumped out of the vehicle without a coat and reportedly appeared intoxicated. He failed field sobriety tests and reportedly said, “I’m f—–! I know what zero tolerance means. My dad is going to f—— kill me.”
He was arrested but refused to submit to a breathalyzer test without a lawyer present. He was charged with DUI, illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor, leaving the scene of an accident, and other Illinois traffic code violations. He was released to the custody of his father.
Unsecured child tips officers
Police saw a 1985 Dodge commit a traffic violation while traveling eastbound on Roosevelt Road from Circle Avenue around 10 a.m., Jan. 31. Officers noticed a child in the back seat who appeared to be under the age of 8 and who was not secured in a child car seat. Curbing the Dodge, they determined the driver, age 22 from Maywood, had an in-state warrant for his arrest from the South Macon County Police Department. The child, 4, was turned over to a relative, and the driver was held for pickup by the South Macon authorities.
‘Bought it off some guy’
Police stopped a 1994 Ford Mustang near Harlem Avenue and Monroe Street after noticing the driver had an expired license sticker around 2 p.m., Jan. 31. On closer inspection, police discovered the car had a valid sticker, but it was registered to another vehicle. When the 49-year-old Forest Park driver was asked where he got the sticker, he reportedly told police he, “bought it off some guy.” He was charged with improper use of registration.
Rowdy in Louie’s
Police were summoned to Louie’s Grill around 7:25 a.m., Feb. 1, to remove a female patron who was being disruptive. When they arrived, they found a 26-year-old woman from Bellwood yelling and running around the restaurant. The waitress asked police to tell the customer she had to leave and couldn’t come back today. When police escorted the woman outside, she broke away and reportedly argued with officers saying, “I’m not on any s—” and “I didn’t do anything.” A friend walked her to a car, but later officers saw her reenter the restaurant and try to sit down with her friends. At that point, officers arrested her and cited her with a local ordinance for disorderly conduct and criminal trespass.
Garage burglary
Someone entered a garage in the 500 block of Elgin Avenue by unknown means, while the owners were away on vacation between Jan. 24 and Feb. 1, and removed a Gary Fisher hybrid mountain bike and several marine/boat batteries. Total loss was estimated at $3,850.
These items were obtained from the records of the Forest Park Police Department, Jan. 28- Feb. 1, 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.
—Compiled by Jean Lotus
