An alleged patron of Forest Park Tap Room was arrested and charged with aggravated and unlawful use of a weapon after the gun was recovered from his car on May 12 at 12:49 a.m. Police observed the suspect’s car double-parked on the 400 block of Circle Ave. After sitting there for a time, the vehicle sped off, screeching its tires and slowing, but not stopping, for a stop sign at Circle Avenue and Adams Street, at which time the  officer pulled the vehicle over.

The suspect allegedly exited the vehicle with his hands in the air, and the reporting officer could see he was wearing a gun holster on his waistband. The suspect was immediately told to put his hands on the vehicle, which he did. As officers approached, the strong odor of cannabis allegedly wafted from the vehicle and from the suspect himself.

When asked if he had a weapon, the suspect allegedly stated that he did not have one on his person but there was one inside the car underneath his seat. He said he had a valid Illinois FOID card, which turned out to be true.

Officers searched the car and found a bag of suspected pot; they also found the gun, a tan-colored CANIK TP9 SF with a fully loaded 17-round mag, directly behind the passenger seat. A second fully loaded mag was found in the center console.

At the station, the suspect said he was at Forest Park Tap Room that night. He planned to wear the gun into the bar for protection but decided to leave it in the car since the security at the bar search patrons prior to entry. The suspect does not have a Concealed Carry License.

The felony charge of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon was approved. The suspect was also charged with stopping, standing or parking; other moving violations; and possession of adult use cannabis in a motor vehicle outside of an approved container.

Cat missing from apartment

A man on the 1000 block of Desplaines Avenue reported that on May 11 he left his apartment for about an hour at 4 p.m. When he returned, he could not find his cat, which he had seen before he left. Building management allegedly told him nobody had been in his apartment to do any work. There were no signs of forced entry, and the man reported that nothing else seemed amiss in his apartment. Allegedly, the man was told by building management that they had checked surveillance video and nobody had been inside the apartment, but they allegedly refused to show the video to the man, which made him suspicious.

Catalytic converter theft

Some time between 12:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on May 13, an unknown person stole the catalytic converter from the undercarriage of a car on the 400 block of Marengo. When the owner started it up to leave for work, it sounded like a race car, he told police.

Man steals sheets and steaks

On May 13 at 1:27 p.m., security at Walmart, 1300 Desplaines Ave., observed a subject in the store take a “Weekender” style bag and put a sheet set and four steaks inside it. He then walked past the point of purchase without paying for the items. He was stopped and police were called. Because he is a repeat offender who was asked not to return to the store on a previous occasion, he was given citations for theft and trespassing.

Apple accessories stolen from CVS

At CVS, 7216 Circle Ave., an unknown suspect stole an Apple iPhone audio cable and two cassette converters on May 13 at 4:11 p.m. According to an employee’s account in the police report, the suspect walked into the store without a mask. Employees told him to put one on and even provided him with one, which he donned while telling the employee how rude he was. The suspect then allegedly asked for the electronics cabinet to be unlocked so he could get stuff from it. The employee obliged, but when the suspect tried to grab the items, the employee took them and said he would bring the items to the counter for payment. At the counter, however, the suspect grabbed the items and walked to the exit, allegedly saying, “Now come and snatch them from me.” He exited the store and was not caught. The approximate value of the items he stole is $54.

When you just can’t hold it

A man was caught urinating in the alley of the 500 block of Ferdinand Avenue on May 11 at 11:36 p.m. He lives only half a block from where he was given a citation, but he said he just couldn’t hold it any longer.

Underage woman served at bar

A 20-year-old who initially lied to police about her age was stopped walking on the street with a White Claw hard seltzer in her hand on May 13 at 1 a.m. She said she was coming from Duffy’s Tavern. Because she is under the legal age to drink, she was warned that if she ever enters the bar again, she will be cited and/or arrested. According to the police report, the bartender was warned to ensure he is checking identification or he would be cited.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, May 7-13, 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