Attempted carjacking and theft

Officers responded to a call for attempted vehicular hijacking Feb. 5. A man parked his 2018 Lexus on Elgin Avenue, got out of the car and saw two people in black ski masks walking toward his vehicle. They asked to use his phone, then both pulled out guns and took his car key from his pocket. After the offenders got in the vehicle, the man told them he was picking up his father, who is a police officer, and would be coming outside. The two offenders exited the car and ran away.  

While pumping gas on the 7200 block of Washington Street Feb. 7, a man got into the passenger side of a woman’s 2020 Lexus and jumped to the driver’s side. When the woman started screaming, the offender exited her car, taking with him her wallet containing two credit cards, two debit cards, her driver’s license and around $100. After checking surveillance video, police confirmed that the offender then got into a Volkswagen Taos with an Illinois registration, although the registration is not for a Volkswagen.  

Aggravated unlawful use of weapon 

On Feb. 5, an officer pulled over a 2021 Chevrolet on the 800 block of North Harlem Avenue for an expired and suspended vehicle registration. The driver had a warrant out for his arrest in Will County and was placed in custody and was not eligible for bond. When police asked the car’s passenger to place his hands on top of the car, he reportedly reached for his waistband, where police later found a loaded 9mm Glock 17 with an extended magazine. Officers grabbed his hands behind his back as he struggled, then put him in handcuffs and took him to the police station, where they read him his Miranda Rights. He posted bond and was released.  

Battery 

Police were dispatched Feb. 5 because a man indecently exposed himself on a CTA platform and, when confronted by CTA personnel, became combative, pushing and spitting on the personnel before walking away. Police picked up the offender on the 700 block of Des Plaines Avenue. At the police department, the offender remained uncooperative and police discovered he had a no-bond warrant for a parole violation. He was transported to the Maybrook County Courthouse to await extradition. 

On Feb. 8, a man reported that he was waiting for the 318 bus on the 700 block of Des Plaines Avenue when another man came and started hitting him. Officers saw that the man had a swollen right eye and cut on his eyebrow, and that he was slurring his words. There was also blood on the ground, along with bottles of lemon baking extract, often consumed for its high alcohol content. While at the bus stop with the police officers, the man made several incoherent statements and became aggressive toward others waiting for the bus. He was taken to Loyola Hospital. When the reported offender, who was walking away from the scene when police arrived, was questioned, he said he had no contact with the victim during his 10 minutes at the bus station. Police found no lacerations or blood on the reported offender. 

Assisting police and fire department  

When Forest Park Police Department units were alerted of a man laying on the Circle Avenue Bridge Feb. 5, they arrived to find him on his side with his head between his legs. He had vomit on his jacket and was snoring, common signs of an overdose. Police placed him on his back and administered Narcan. When he became more responsive, they took him to Oak Park Hospital.  

DUI  

On Feb. 7, police noticed a 2016 Chrysler driving without headlights or taillights. A registration check showed that the vehicle registration had expired. After the Chrysler nearly struck a parked vehicle on 13th Street, police pulled it over. The driver was unable to provide proof of insurance, and police noticed he had slurred speech, plus that his car smelled like alcohol. Police found two open cans of vodka cocktails in the car, and the man lost balance while completing a Walk-and-Turn test. The driver was placed in custody and driven to the police station, where he took a test that revealed his Blood Alcohol Concentration to be .169 and was read his Miranda Rights. He was charged with six citations and given a court date.  

Criminal damage to property 

Also on Feb. 7, a woman reported that on Jan. 30, she was driving her 2023 Toyota. She was at a stop sign on the 7300 block of 14th Street when she heard a loud pop and found her rear passenger quarter panel was damaged, possibly by a pellet gun. The Forest Park Police Department said that the incident is similar to previous calls they’ve responded to.  

These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated Feb. 5 through Feb. 8 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.