Police uncover cannabis at traffic stop
Police responded to a disturbance at a home on the 1100 block of Thomas Avenue, on a call that people were arguing loudly. Several officers arrived at 1130 Thomas Ave. since a reckless discharge of firearm had been reported about a month prior.
Officers spoke with the driver of a Jeep parked nearby, asking if everything was OK. They could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Officers ordered the driver as well as the Jeep’s five occupants out of the car. At that point, the driver started screaming and calling someone to tell them her location and asking them to pick her up right away. For officer safety, police took the phone from the driver.
In the back seat of the car, police spotted two open containers of cognac. Two passengers were cited for open alcohol violations.
While speaking with another passenger, Michael Hawthorne, officers noticed he kept reaching into his pockets. Police ordered Hawthorne, 22, to keep his hands where they could see them but Hawthorne refused, saying, “I’m not doing anything; all I have is a little bit of weed.” Police uncovered 35 grams of cannabis on Hawthorne.
He received a felony charge for delivery/manufacture of cannabis over 30 grams, as well as a misdemeanor charge for possession of cannabis.
Fight on Madison Street
Police responded to a call from a Madison Street bar that a highly-intoxicated man was starting fights inside the bathroom about 1:25 a.m. on April 19.
Officers escorted the man from 7432 Madison St. outside, where he called cops “stupid” and “a bunch of pussies.” He began to walk home but then got in a fight with another man across Madison Street. Police broke up the fight, with the man calling police “bitches,” declining to comment on who started the fight and attempting to fight the other man again.
The other man told police the offender had been calling him threatening names from down the street, and squaring up his body like he wanted to fight. He said he hit him to protect himself.
Paramedics arrived and the man continued to refuse to give his information, using several more expletives.
The man was transported to Rush Oak Park Hospital for a laceration above his eye that he received during the fight. He was charged with public intoxication and public fighting.
Wallet lifted
Sometime between 3 and 9:30 p.m. on April 17, someone stole a wallet and phone from a Chevrolet Uplander parked at Living Word Church, 7600 Roosevelt Road.
These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, April 14-20, 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.
Nona Tepper
