Police crash squad cars before apprehending car thief
Police responded to an aggravated hijacking of a black Chevrolet Cruz at 1021 Desplaines about 2:41 p.m. on Nov. 21.
The victim told police she had just exited and parked her car when two men came up to her, saying they were homeless and demanding her keys. One man put his hand on his hip, indicating he had a gun. The other blocked her from entering her house door. She handed over her keys.
The two men fled, one entering the stolen Chevrolet Cruz, and another taking off in a white “chase car.”
Officers spotted the Chevrolet Cruz and chase car traveling north on Harlem, near I-290. The Chevrolet turned east on Jackson, turning onto side streets in the area. Police followed the car, with one officer striking a tree on the 900 block of Mayfield.
Another officer continued pursuing the Chevrolet and struck a “One Way” sign at the intersection of 13th and 59th Court in Cicero.
The Chevrolet continued to flee from Forest Park, Oak Park and Chicago police, but halted when it struck a tree near Fillmore Street in Chicago. Xavier Fowler, 18, of Chicago, exited the car, fled on foot, and attempted to enter parked vehicles along the street. Oak Park police captured Fowler and took him into custody.
The man was cited for driving with a suspended license, failing to signal, improper lane usage, disobeying a stop sign, speeding, vehicular hijacking, aggravated flee/attempt to elude a police officer and aggravated robbery.
Battery at Madison Street bar
Police responded to a fight at Slainte, 7505 Madison St., about 2:12 a.m. on Nov. 22.
The bar owner told police he was attempting to clean the bathroom when a group of women tried to enter the area. When he pushed them away, a woman threw a beer bottle at his face. The woman told police he was harassing her group. The bar owner had a cut on his nose and dried blood on his face, according to the report.
When officers arrived, they saw a group of women running out the bar’s back door to the alley. The women told police they were involved in the fight but denied being the aggressors. They were transported to the police station.
The victim identified the woman who had thrown the beer bottle at his face.
She was charged with battery.
Charged with impaired driving
Police spotted a car with a broken headlight stopped at the intersection of Jackson and Desplaines about 9:04 p.m. on Nov. 18.
Officers curbed the Saturn, approached the vehicle, and asked the driver for his driver’s license and insurance. The Forest Park man handed police his license but said he didn’t have insurance on him. Officers smelled a strong odor of cannabis coming from the car and noticed his eyes were dilated and glassy.
The man told police he had smoked “a joint” at his girlfriend’s house in west suburban Addison but denied having any marijuana on him. Officers searched the car and found a grinder and pipe inside, both containing suspect cannabis.
He was charged with driving under the influence of drugs.
Tools stolen from Ford
A man stole tools from a Ford Expedition parked on the 7200 block of Franklin about 1:09 p.m. on Nov. 23, according to surveillance footage. The victim told police he was unloading tools from the Ford when a burglar approached the vehicle and stole a tool box, which contained two torches valued at $325; three tubing cutters valued at $90; a hammer drill, battery and charger valued at $350; and miscellaneous hand tools valued at $400.
Shortly after, a garbage man approached police, asking if they were looking for hand tools. He pointed them to the Elite Tire parking lot, where a bag of tools was dropped near a garbage can.
A River Forest officer later located the tool box on the 7200 block of Franklin.
‘I’m going to be honest with you’
Police spotted a Berwyn man standing outside, with his upper body inside a Toyota Camry parked on the 1200 block of Elgin about 3:54 a.m. on Nov. 22.
Officers asked if the Toyota Camry was his. The man replied, “I’m going to be honest with you; this is not my vehicle.”
He was charged with criminal trespass to a vehicle.
These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, Nov.17-26, 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 Nona Tepper
