Man flashes box cutter at Walmart
A Flossmoor man flashed a box cutter and threw a garbage can at a Walmart employee who accused him of stealing from the store at 12:20 p.m. on June 23.
A Walmart loss prevention associate told police he watched Herman Johnston, 64, stick store items in his waistband and in a plastic bag he brought to the store. As Johnston attempted to leave, the employee asked him to stop. Johnston reportedly refused and began swinging a box cutter at the employee, yelling that he was a “4 Corner Hustler.” He then threw a garbage can at the employee and ran back inside the store.
Johnston exited the emergency doors, and police apprehended him on the south side of the building, where he had approximately $150 worth of Walmart merchandise stuffed in his pants.
He was charged with felony retail theft, as well as a misdemeanor charge for assault.
Arrested for DUI, suspended license
Officers spotted a vehicle idling in the alley between Elgin and Marengo avenues at 3 a.m. on June 22.
A registration check revealed that the car’s registration had expired. Police approached the vehicle, and the driver refused to look at or acknowledge the officer. The man, 30, turned his radio volume up. He was unable to provide officers with his license or registration and told police he was going to Oak Park but could not explain why his car was idling in the alley. Officers smelled a strong odor of alcohol.
A search of the man’s wallet revealed his license, which was suspended.
He was transported to the police station, where he started crying fell to the floor in the detention cell. He refused a breathalyzer test.
The man was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, obstructing a peace officer and driving while his license was suspended.
Road rage near PMSA
Police responded to Proviso Math and Science Academy, 8601 Roosevelt Road, on a call that a man with a gun threatened a slow driver.
The victim told police a man driving a sedan became upset with him in Brookfield for driving too slow. When the two cars approached the intersection of 1st Avenue and Roosevelt Road, the angry driver flashed a black revolver at the victim. The victim drove into the parking lot at Proviso Math and Science Academy, and the upset driver followed.
The man then exited his sedan, laid down on the parking lot pavement and told the victim to “place him under arrest.” When the victim called the police, he jumped back in his car and sped away.
Car hood dancing during rowdy funeral
Officers responded to 7600 Roosevelt Road at 12:59 p.m. on June 21, about someone dancing on an innocent bystander’s vehicle during a rowdy funeral.
Police noticed a Chevrolet Tahoe swerving in and out of its lane, blaring loud music, with occupants were hanging out of the windows. A man sat on the roof of the car and positioned his hands as if he were shooting a rifle at nearby cars. At one point, the man reportedly stood up, the Chevrolet swerved and the man fell off, grabbing the car’s cargo rack to keep from hitting the ground.
Police mailed the vehicle’s registered owner tickets for disorderly conduct and violating the village’s funeral ordinance.
Phone taken
A man said he wanted to test a new phone at 10:13 a.m. on June 22 at Metro PCS, 7226 Roosevelt Road. An employee told the man she could not let him hold the iPhone Xs. The man allegedly grabbed the phone from her hands and exited the store.
He jumped into a Chevrolet Impala and fled north on Marengo Avenue. As the car sped through the intersection of Marengo Avenue and Roosevelt Road, several cars had to break suddenly to keep from striking the vehicle. Officers attempted to curb the vehicle but the car sped away.
The employee said the phone was valued at $1,000.
Wallet lifted
Sometime between 7 p.m. on June 21 and 10 a.m. on June 23, someone stole a wallet from a Nissan parked on the 1100 block of Lathrop Avenue. The wallet contained $300 cash, two credit cards and a debit card. The victim told police his doors were unlocked.
Thief rides off with bikes
Between 12:01 a.m. on June 11 and 11 a.m. on June 18, someone stole two bicycles valued at $700 (total) from a garage on the 100 block of Rockford Avenue. The victim said the garage door might have been unlocked.
These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, June 17-23, 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
