Three men wearing surgical masks and gloves used a large crowbar to force open the door of Submarine Tender, 200 Desplaines Ave., about 5:25 a.m. on Oct. 22, ripped two cash registers from the counter and unsuccessfully tried to remove an ATM before fleeing the scene in a red Ford Explorer.

Police responded to the business after someone who lives in the area heard shattering glass and called 911. A River Forest police officer located a red Ford Explorer heading eastbound on Randolph Street and gave chase, but ended the pursuit on I-290 at Austin Boulevard.

According to police, the license plate on the vehicle was on a vehicle another officer unsuccessfully tried to stop on Oct. 20. The plates are registered to a silver 2007 Chevy sedan.

Surveillance video showed the Explorer back up to the window of the business. Across the street a man on Randolph Street served as a lookout while three others got out of the SUV and forced their way into the business. The driver remained inside the vehicle.

As the SUV left the parking lot, about 30 packs of Camel cigarettes can be seen falling out of the vehicle, leaving a trail along Randolph Street.

The incident was similar to two burglaries involving the theft of ATMs on Roosevelt Road in Oak Park in October. There was also a similar burglary reported last week at a liquor store on Ogden Avenue in Brookfield.

Woman cited in barroom brawl

Three women were handed local ordinance citations for public fighting just before 1 a.m. on Oct. 21 after one of them, a 28-year-old Bellwood woman, allegedly started a brawl that included flying barstools and glassware at Mugsy’s, 7640 Madison St.

Police obtained surveillance camera video that reportedly showed the Bellwood woman “start multiple physical altercations and verbally attacking people for an extended period of time.”

The incident apparently escalated when a 30-year-old River Grove woman entered the bar and a fight broke out involving a large number of people. A 31-year-old Forest Park woman then began throwing barstools and glasses into the melee, striking several people.

Police arrived at the scene to find broken glass and barstools scattered about the floor of the bar, while the bartender pointed out the alleged aggressors. According to police, the incident was spillover from an incident two weeks earlier between the Bellwood woman and another bar patron prior. That person was in the bar on Oct. 21 when the Bellwood woman entered, reigniting the altercation, police said.

Police did not report any injuries. 

Bridge mural vandalized

The section of a mural on the east wall of the Circle Avenue bridge over I-290 has now been vandalized about a half-dozen times in recent weeks after the latest incident, which was reported about 8 p.m. on Oct. 22.

An unknown person glued a piece of plywood over the word “no” in the sentence “No human is illegal,” which is part of the mural at the southeast end of the bridge. The person who discovered the vandalism told police he was able to remove the plywood, because the glue hadn’t dried yet.

Felony DUI, weapons charges

A 30-year-old Chicago man faces felony drunken driving charges and weapons charges in addition to misdemeanor drug charges after he was stopped by police in the 600 block of Harlem Avenue on Oct. 27 at 1:40 a.m. for suspicion of driving on a suspended license.

According to police, Tommie E. Ray’s blood-alcohol content was .172, which is more than twice the legal limit of .08. Police also reported recovering a loaded .38-caliber revolver and a bag of 22 rounds of ammunition from the trunk of his 1997 Pontiac Bonneville.

Police said the gun had been reported stolen out of Chicago, and that Ray had two prior felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and for possession of a controlled substance.

In addition, police reported recovering cannabis packaged in two plastic bags, each containing 10 separate smaller zip-top bags as well as about $880 in cash in two bundles inside the glove box.

Stoned

Police charged a 39-year-old Forest Park man with reckless conduct and possession of cannabis after he allegedly threw rocks at a window and a vehicle at Currie Motors, 8401 Roosevelt Road on Oct. 25 about 9:05 a.m.

The building sustained only scratches and did not need to be replaced. After arresting the man, police said they discovered the man possessed a small amount of cannabis. 

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, Oct. 21-27, 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 Bob Uphues