Group bails on cab fare, slushie thrown at store clerk

Four Chicago men have each been charged with one count of theft of labor services after they failed to pay a $32 cab fare on Sept. 10 around 5 p.m. The group was traveling from Chicago and stopped at Thornton’s gas station, 601 Harlem Ave., to use an ATM to withdraw cab fare. Instead, the group entered the store, and one of the men attempted to buy a cigar but was unable to produce a valid ID. When the store clerk refused, the man became angry and threw his slushie drink at the employee. The four men then fled. Police found the group a short time later on the 600 block of Elgin. Officers also found a stolen Macbook computer and a small amount of marijuana on the slushie-thrower, who was also charged with battery. 

 Possession of a controlled substance

Charles Hayes of West Dundee has been charged one count of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug equipment and delivery of cannabis. On Sept. 11 around 9 p.m., officers stopped the 24-year-old man for using a cellphone while driving his 2007 Ford sedan southbound along Harlem Avenue. Approaching the car, officers reportedly smelled marijuana and subsequently searched the vehicle. They found 65 grams of marijuana, worth several hundred dollars, along with a digital scale commonly used to weigh individual amounts of drugs. 

 Theft

Ronald Buford of Chicago has been charged with one count of felony retail theft after stealing about $100 worth of toiletries from CVS, 7216 Circle Ave. On Sept. 8 around 8 a.m., the 45-year-old took the merchandise, including razors and body wash, and then boarded a northbound bus on nearby Harlem Avenue. A responding River Forest officer was able to stop the bus and detain Buford.

Between 11 p.m. on Sept. 11 and 6 a.m. the following morning, someone stole a locked bike, valued at $200, from the CTA Blue Line terminal, 711 Desplaines Ave.

Regina Russell of Forest Park has been charged with one count of felony retail theft after she tried to steal a shopping cart full of merchandise from Walmart, 1300 Desplaines Ave., on Sept. 12 around 2 p.m. At the self-checkout, the 34-year-old woman only paid for a few of the items in her cart before leaving the store. She was stopped a short time later by Walmart security.

On Sept. 12 around midnight, someone stole the jacket of a Forest Park man. The 27-year-old had left his jacket unattended while stepping outside a bar on the 7400 block of Madison Street to smoke a cigarette. A Samsung phone, worth several hundred dollars, and a set of car keys were inside the jacket.

Rafael Martinez has been charged with one count of felony retail theft after trying to steal several items, including housewares and groceries from Walmart, 1300 Desplaines Ave., on Sept. 13 around 10 p.m. An employee stopped the 62-year-old Woodridge man when he failed to pay for the merchandise before the leaving the store.

An Oak Park was charged with one count of felony retail theft after attempting to steal around $20 worth of toiletries from Walmart, 1300 Desplaines Ave., on Sept. 11 around 8 p.m.

 Burglary

Someone burglarized a Forest Park couple’s 2012 Chevrolet Malibu sometime between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 6. The couple parked the unlocked car along the 7500 block of Harrison Street. A purse containing prescription medications was taken.

On Sept. 5, a Forest Park resident reported a garage burglary on the 1000 block of Harlem Avenue. The break-in occurred sometime between Aug. 31 and Sept. 5. No signs of forced entry were visible and the resident told police he usually leaves the garage’s side door open. The burglars stole about $900 worth of power tools.

Someone stole a Samsung cellphone, worth several hundred dollars, from a parked 2006 Chrysler sedan. The burglary occurred on Sept. 12 around 5:15 p.m. in the parking lot of a liquor store on the 7000 block of Madison Street. 

 Battery 

A Forest Park woman has been charged with one count of battery after allegedly striking her daughter’s ex-boyfriend on Sept. 12 around 11 p.m. The 40-year-old woman saw the ex-boyfriend using an ATM at Ribfest, 7824 Madison St., and then hit him several times in the face.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, Sept. 5-12, 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