Truck driver stabbed during armed robbery

A 26-year-old Forest Park man was stabbed in the thigh during an alleged armed robbery in Forest Park on June 18 around 11 p.m. 

The victim returned to his semi-truck, which was parked in the 7700 block of Industrial Drive, after realizing he had left his wallet in the vehicle. After grabbing the wallet, the victim heard a sound from the back of the trailer. 

An unknown man appeared, placed a knife on the victim’s chest and reportedly demanded his money. The suspect pocketed $200 and fled but not before stabbing the man in the leg. 

The victim didn’t have his cellphone with him, but was able to drive home and call police. When police arrived, the victim was reportedly “bleeding heavily” from his left thigh.

He was taken by paramedics to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood for treatment. 

Possession of a controlled substance 

On June 18 around 9:30 p.m., authorities charged Ivy Stevenson, of Chicago, with one count of possession of a controlled substance. The 26-year-old woman was a riding in a 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix that was stopped in the 1300 block of Harlem Avenue after a registration check revealed an expired license. 

Police reported discovering about 4 grams of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, valued at several hundred dollars, inside the car. 

Kyle McGill, of Aurora, was charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance after police reported finding the 29-year-old unconscious in the front seat of his black 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt in the parking lot of Thornton’s Gas Station, 601 Harlem Avenue, on June 21 around 8 p.m.

Inside McGill’s vehicle, police reported recovering 1.9 grams of heroin along with a syringe. McGill was on probation for robbery at the time of his arrest, police reported. 

Attempted burglaries at cemetery  

On the morning of June 16, employees of a landscaping business found one of the company’s utility trailers, which had been parked overnight at Woodlawn Cemetery, 7600 Cermak Road, damaged after an attempted burglary. The trailer’s side door padlock was also missing. However, nothing was reported stolen. 

The employee entrance door to the cemetery’s maintenance building was also found damaged. The attempted break-in happened between the afternoon hours of June 13 and the early morning of June 15. Despite the damage, the burglars failed to enter the building. 

Motor vehicle burglaries 

Two cars in the 7200 block of Harvard Street were burglarized between 7 p.m. on June 20 and 11 a.m. on June 21. The rear driver’s side window of a 2001 white Pontiac Grand Prix had been smashed with a chunk of concrete. A silver Macbook Pro was stolen. The steering column was also damaged. A 1999 silver Nissan Altima was also found with its front passenger’s door open and the inside of the car ransacked. However, nothing was reported missing. 

During the afternoon on June 21, a man and his family were shopping at Walmart, 1300 Desplaines Ave. While inside, two headrest monitors, valued at $200, were removed from their 2004 white Chevrolet Suburban, which was parked in the lot outside. A coat hanger apparently was used to unlock the vehicle. 

Theft

Donald Abel, 58, of Chicago, has been charged with felony retail theft. On June 16 around noon, Abel allegedly stole a box of ice cream and four bottles of lotion, with a total value of $35.55, from CVS, 7216 Circle Avenue. Officers stopped Abel at the corner of Harlem and Lake Streets. Able had several prior retail and burglary convictions, police said. 

Christina Cruz, of Chicago was charged with felony retail theft for allegedly stealing $352 of pharmaceutical merchandise from CVS, 7216 Circle Avenue, on June 17 around noon. The 42-year-old woman told reportedly officers she was stealing the items to support her drug habit. 

A 36-year-old woman reported her 26-inch Next PX 6.0 18-speed mountain bike missing from a basement common storage area in the 7200 block of 14th Street. The incident occurred sometime between June 15 and June 17. The thief cut through a combination lock before removing the $100 bike. 

An orange 8500 Generac power generator, valued at $1,200, was stolen from the 7400 block of Roosevelt Road at around 6 p.m. on June 17. A witness described seeing a tall man with white hair remove the generator before fleeing in a dark grey minivan.

 These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, June 15-21, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.

—Compiled by Tom Vogel