A man with a gun held up the 7-Eleven at 205 Harlem Ave. on May 16 at 3:53 a.m. According to the police report, video footage shows the man entering the store, wearing a black winter cap, a black mask, a grey hoodie, black pants, and one black glove. After selecting a beverage at the back of the store, the man went to the counter and paid for the drink, which the clerk put into a plastic bag. The suspect then walked away for a moment, and when he returned to the counter, he pulled a firearm out from the pocket of his hoodie and demanded the money from the register. The clerk put the money into the bag with the beverage. The suspect, who touched nothing except the beverage with his ungloved hand, then left the store. The clerk was so shaken up that he was transported to the hospital.

Tickets issued for loud music

  • Police issued a ticket to the driver of a vehicle parked on the 400 block of Jackson Boulevard on May 15 at 11:02 p.m. for music that could be heard almost a block away, according to the police report. On the same night at 11:22 p.m. on the 300 block of Marengo Avenue, police issued a ticket to another vehicle playing music so loud it could also be heard almost a block away. According to the police report, the driver was apologetic.
  • On May 16 at 1:30 a.m., a woman was issued a local ordinance citation for playing loud music in her car on the 7300 block of Madison Street. According to the police report, the music could be heard from the distance of about half a block away. The woman allegedly told police she didn’t know she couldn’t play music at that volume because she’s not from the area.
  • A vehicle on the 7400 block of Madison Street was pulled over and issued a citation for “extremely loud music” on May 20 at 11:11 p.m.

Open alcohol, including $200 bottle of champagne

  • An officer observed a man exiting Forest Park Tap Room, 7321 Madison St., with a bottle of Moet champagne on May 15 at 1:05 a.m. According to the police report, the man walked past security with the bottle, then tried to hide it in his jacket. He allegedly told the reporting officer that he’d purchased the bottle for $200 at the bar and began to drink it. The officer reportedly had to remove the bottle from the man’s hands to stop him from drinking it on the sidewalk. He was issued a local ordinance citation for open alcohol.
  • A man on the 7600 block of Madison Street was drinking suspected alcohol from a plastic cup on May 16 at 12:54 a.m. When police stopped him, he immediately finished the drink and threw the cup away. He was issued a local ordinance citation for open alcohol.
  • A little while later, at 1:49 a.m., a man on the 7200 block of Madison Street was issued a citation for open alcohol.

Reckless drivers in funeral procession

Five vehicles were issued citations for reckless driving on May 17 around 2 p.m. during a rowdy funeral procession on Desplaines Avenue. The procession was traveling west toward Forest Home Cemetery, and police observed the vehicles failing to stay in their lanes and driving into oncoming traffic “without regard for the innocent motoring public,” according to the police report. The bad driving was caught on a squad car’s camera, and tickets will be sent to the registered addresses of the vehicles.

Uber driver finds stolen gun

An Uber driver was in for a surprise on May 15 at 6:36 a.m., when, looking for identification to contact the owner, he opened a bag left behind by a customer and found a gun. He immediately closed the bag and called police. The reporting officer discovered the gun was loaded with a round in the chamber. It was discovered by running the passenger’s name through LEADS that he had no FOID card or CCL. The serial number on the gun was that of a firearm stolen in Arkansas.

Man smashes windows, throws garbage cans

A man doing concrete work on a home on the 600 block of Elgin Avenue was transported to the hospital after becoming violent, reportedly tearing a metal light post from the ground and using it to damage lawn furniture and garage siding and smash a garage window on May 15 at 7:57 a.m. Witnesses say he was also using an ax to shatter windows. When police arrived, he was allegedly throwing garbage cans at two men who were trying to calm him down. According to the police report, the man was “physically violent, sweating profusely, frothing at the mouth and speaking irrationally.” He was transported to the hospital by Forest Park paramedics.

Attempted theft of knives, machetes

A man walked into Walmart, 1300 Desplaines Ave. on May 15 around 3 p.m., and filled the sleeves of his jacket and a backpack he’d taken from a shelf with knives, machetes, black gloves and a flashlight, according to the police report. He then walked past the point of purchase without paying. He was stopped by security and issued a ticket by the police.

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

Compiled by Maria Maxham