Reports of gunshots near school just fireworks
The Forest Park Police Department received multiple calls reporting possible gunshots at about 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 7 in the area of the 1000 block of Beloit Avenue.
According to a police report, an officer on patrol in the 900 block of Hannah Avenue also heard several loud explosions, such as a gun or fireworks would make. As the officer drove around trying to determine the source of the noise, he was informed by several residents that they heard the noise as well.
The officer said he checked in with Forest Park police communications and was told the department had received about 10 calls about the noises.
Due to the proximity of the noise to Field-Stevenson Elementary School and Forest Park Middle School, both schools were put on a temporary soft lock down. Another Forest Park officer was directed to a home in the 100 block of Beloit Avenue and an officer located a “brick” type fireworks display and red tissue-like paper in the backyard, but it was unlikely to be the source of the noise, due to a lack of odor and snow coverage over it.
According to police, officers attempted to talk with someone inside the home and eventually were able to interview a man who said he did not live there, but was visiting friends, and denied knowledge of any fireworks noise.
Police said the man eventually admitted to setting off fireworks. Police said the man initially was concerned about the number of officers that responded to the home, but was told that such a police presence was necessary when possibly gun shots were reported, especially so close to a school.
After investigating, police charged the 21-year-old Riverwoods man who was visiting friends in Forest Park with a village citation for setting off fireworks in the 1000 block of Beloit Avenue.
Several types of fireworks were also confiscated in a large trash bag, most of which were small in nature, police said.
Sex act leads to public indecency charge
Forest Park police were called at about 10 p.m. on Jan. 4 to the CTA Green Line Station at 1 S. Harlem Ave. to investigate a report of public indecency called in by CTA personnel.
According to the police report, a CTA employee saw a man and a woman engaged in oral sex while the man was sitting on a bus bench facing Harlem Avenue. When the CTA employee asked them to stop, the man said, “No, she’s my wife,” according to police.
The man and woman each were charged with a misdemeanor count of public indecency.
Serial retail thief arrested again
Larry D. Reed, 58, of Chicago, was charged at about 5:55 p.m. Jan. 8 with retail theft, criminal trespassing and possession of drug equipment in the 7200 block of Circle Avenue.
According to police, Reed had a record with 62 convictions for retail theft and was on parole for a retail theft charge at the time he was arrested. Police said Reed placed several items in a bag at CVS, 7216 Circle Ave., and left without paying.
When he was arrested, police also reported finding a pipe with burnt ends that officers believed was used for smoking crack cocaine.
Because Reed had previously been arrested three times by Forest Park Police, including a 2015 case of retail theft at the same CVS, police also charged Reed with trespassing.
Attempted condo burglary
A Forest Park resident reported at 8:37 a.m. on Jan. 9 that someone attempted to burglarize her condo the previous night in the 7400 block of Washington Street.
Police found the door to the woman’s condo damaged, but entry was not made to the residence.
Vehicle burglaries reported
A vehicle was reported burglarized Jan. 4 in the 7700 block of Taylor Street overnight between Sept. 5 and 6. Stolen was a CPR card and a medical device
A vehicle was reported burglarized at 5:29 p.m. on Jan. 5 in the 1000 block of Dunlop Avenue. Stolen was a change purse, school ID card and lanyard.
A vehicle was reported burglarized between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Jan. 7 in the 7400 block of Warren Avenue. Stolen was an unknown amount of change.
A vehicle was reported burglarized at 12:47 p.m. on Jan. 8 in the 200 block of Marengo Avenue. Stolen was a small pocket knife.
Construction tools with an estimated value of $640 were reported stolen from a vehicle at 1:06 p.m. on Jan. 19 in the 7700 block of Monroe Avenue.
The right rear tire and rim of a vehicle was reported stolen at 8:13 a.m. on Jan. 6 in the 200 block of Circle Avenue.
These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, Jan. 4 to Jan. 10, 2016, 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 Matthew Hendrickson
