Employees at Cactus Grill, 315 Harlem Ave., sat on a man to hold him down for police on Feb. 9 at 12:35 p.m. The subject allegedly tried to steal money from the tip jar. Reporting officers entered the restaurant and handcuffed the man. According to an employee, when the subject first came in the front door, he started yelling, “Feed me, y’all gotta feed me!” The employee told him to leave, but he continued toward the counter, where he reached into the tip jar and removed all the money. Then he tried to reach the cash register. When she pushed him away, he swung a plastic bag filled with heavy items at her face. She blocked the bag with her hand and yelled for help; her husband and brother came out of the kitchen and tackled the suspect.

Briefcase stolen from car at Walmart

A briefcase was stolen from a car while parked at Walmart, 1300 Desplaines Ave., on Feb. 8 at 12:42 a.m. The victim reported being in a hurry and not locking his vehicle before entering the store. Once he returned home, he realized the briefcase was missing from the rear of the car. It contained “sensitive paperwork,” including his social security card and birth certificate.

Cellphone stolen at library

A Samsung Galaxy 8, valued at roughly $500, was stolen from a man at the Forest Park Public Library on Feb. 8 at 4:21 p.m. The victim said his phone was charging at the charging station in the southeast corner of the library. He said he turned his back for a few minutes, and when he returned to retrieve his phone, it was no longer there. 

‘Doser’ or ‘loser’

Police were called to 711 Desplaines Ave. for criminal defacement of property on Feb. 9 at 4:04 p.m. when graffiti was discovered on a CTA Blue Line train car. According to the police report, “an abstract multicolored piece” was spray-painted onto the car, along with either the word “doser” or “loser,” but it was unclear exactly which word had been intended.

Jack Daniels stolen

Two bottles of Gentlemen Jack Daniels and one bottle of regular Jack Daniels were stolen from Forest Park Liquors on Feb. 5 at 6:26 p.m. The suspect, a black male around 29 years old, was wearing a grey camo hooded sweatshirt, a black jacket, dark jeans and black New Balance gym shoes with white soles. He placed all three bottles on the counter, but when the employee approached the register, the suspect grabbed the bottles, valued at approximately $90, and ran out of the store.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, Feb. 3-9, 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 Maria Maxham