‘Agent’ in Escalade spends evening in lockup
Police observed a speeding white 2007 Cadillac Escalade heading north on Harlem Avenue clocking 71 miles per hour in a 30-mph zone near Madison Street around 1:30 a.m., Feb. 14. Police saw the driver cross the double yellow line to pass slower vehicles and weave out of the car’s traffic lane. After being curbed, the driver, a 30-year-old man from Chicago, slammed on the brakes and opened the car door. He could not provide a license or a photo ID but told officers he was a “confidential informant” for a redacted law enforcement agency, and he and the two ladies in the Cadillac were performing undercover police work at a local bar. Officers noted a strong smell of alcohol on his breath and glassy eyes and slurred speech. He insisted on making a phone call to his alleged contact at the agency and demanded the officer take the phone. The officer hung up on the person on the other end and asked the driver to participate in field sobriety tests. Officers recovered open bottles of Bud Light “Lime-a-rita” and “Straw-ber-ita” in the cup holders. At the police station, the man refused to give a Breathalyzer sample and was charged with DUI, speeding, improper lane usage and no license. He paid $3,000 bond and was released in the morning.
Underage drinking
Three young women, ages 19 and 20 from Geneva and Palatine, were issued local ordinance citations for underage drinking at Doc Ryan’s around 12:30 a.m., Feb. 14. Police said they observed the three sitting at a table near the entrance to the bar at 7432 Madison St. The women reportedly admitted they were underage but then claimed no one had checked their IDs at the door. No citations were recorded written to bar personnel.
Police nabbed three underage drinkers at Pioneer Liquors & Tap, 7445 Randolph St. around midnight, Feb. 22. According to reports, the underage women and one man were in the establishment but were not observed by police to be drinking. They were released from the scene without incident. Police issued a local ordinance ticket to the female bartender.
Bartender nabbed for skipping court
A 27-year-old man identified as living in Elmhurst, who was arrested in December for crashing his 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup truck into a fire hydrant and pole, was arrested again around midnight, Feb. 15, while tending bar at Angelo O’Leary’s, 7522 Madison St. According to police, he was “known by officers to have an active warrant” for the December arrest and was charged with an in-state warrant.
Man gobbles baggies full of drugs
Police observed a 2001 Oldsmobile cutting through a gas station at Harlem Avenue and Lexington Street and turning right around 10 p.m., Feb. 15. As police questioned the driver, an officer observed the passenger, a 27-year-old Chicago man, reaching down to the passenger-side floorboard and opening a plastic bag. Police observed him placing an unknown number of small plastic baggies into his hand and then shoving them into his mouth. When ordered to stop chewing, the man refused and would not open the passenger side door. An officer shattered the passenger side window with a flashlight, opened the door and grabbed the man’s arm. The man was removed and thrown into a snow bank along Harlem Avenue. The man rolled onto his stomach, placed both arms under his chest and swallowed the baggies. When he rolled onto his back, he reportedly spit out a scrap of baggie and told police, “I didn’t swallow anything. Don’t kill me!” In spite of the suspect’s efforts, police still recovered eight more bags of white powdery substance which field-tested positive for heroin.
The suspect also told police, “I’m sorry, can we talk? I have been working with some Chicago Police guys. Their numbers are in my phone.”
Police took him to Loyola Hospital because he had successfully swallowed an unknown quantity of drugs, but he refused treatment. He reportedly told police he was driving with friends to “serve someone up,” meaning bring them drugs. While speaking, both his cellphones were reportedly ringing constantly and receiving text messages. He also told police, “I can get you drugs and guns. Please don’t charge me! What can I do so you don’t charge me?”
He was charged with possession of a controlled substance. The driver was charged with traffic violations.
Alleged shoplifter, 103 prior arrests, 56 convictions
A 55-year-old Chicago man was allegedly observed at the CVS in the 7200 block of Circle Avenue removing 32 items from the shelves worth $282.13 and placing them into a plastic bag, then attempting to leave the store around 2:30 p.m., Feb. 20. Forest Park police discovered Larry D. Reed was on parole from the Illinois Dept. of Corrections. He had 103 prior arrests and 56 convictions, according to police. Previously he had been arrested for retail theft at the same CVS but told police he did not remember that. He said he had a $100 per day drug habit and stole to make money to buy heroin or crack cocaine. He was charged with felony retail theft.
Vehicles stolen
A 27-year-old man told police he entered the 7-Eleven in the 7700 block of Roosevelt Road around 3 a.m., Feb. 17, and left his key in the ignition of his grey 2006 Chrysler 300 with the engine running. When he returned to the lot, his Chrysler was gone.
A freightliner semi-truck and trailer disappeared from a rented parking space in the 1300 block of Circle Avenue between Feb. 12 and 17. The owner said a colleague raised suspicions that something was wrong when he asked if he could use the owner’s parking space. Estimated loss was not provided.
Toronto tagger nabbed with spray paint
A 21-year-old man from Toronto, Ontario, Canada was arrested by police around 2 a.m., Feb. 21, after CTA employees told cops three men were observed spray-painting a parked Blue Line train in the yard area. When they were discovered, the men fled north through the Grove complex and then into Concordia Cemetery. The Canadian was found by police hiding behind a tombstone. Police recovered a black backpack nearby, containing 11 cans of spray paint. CTA officials estimated the damage caused by vandalism to the train was $3,536.29. The Cook County assistant state’s attorney approved a felony charge of criminal damage to state-supported property.
These items were obtained from the records of the Forest Park Police Department, Feb. 14-22, 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
