Around 9:30 p.m. on April 16, Oak Brook police were pursuing a car for retail theft on I-290 that was approaching 1st Avenue. Forest Park police positioned themselves at the intersection to block traffic from getting on the highway. The pursued driver exited the expressway on Central, driving on just the tire rims on the passenger side of the vehicle. A female passenger exited the car at Central and Flournoy, and a Forest Park officer caught her and pulled her to the ground. Forest Park police also helped detain another offender in the car, and Oak Brook police took the two into custody.
Retail theft
Police were dispatched to Aldi on Harlem Avenue April 14 after three men stole laundry detergent and fabric softener, one who was still on scene. Police from Forest Park, Oak Park and River Forest canvassed the area and found the other two men, one in an alley just south of Franklin and another away from the 100 block of Harlem. One of the perpetrators was a juvenile, and his mother was called and picked him up from the police department. All three were charged with retail theft.
Intent to deliver cannabis
Police pulled over a driver April 15 in the 300 block of Harlem after a car failed twice to signal when changing lanes. Police reported that the car smelled of fresh cannabis. Police searched the car and found two dozen bags or pill bottles full of weed, a digital scale and over $300 in cash on the driver. The driver was charged with two counts of improper lane usage, violating state vehicle code, possessing cannabis over 100 grams, and possession with intent to deliver cannabis.
Dispute
Police responded to the 1400 block of Circle Avenue the evening of April 15 after a man called and reported a dispute at Escobar Auto Collision. Though the man found the business online, which says it’s based in Cicero, the business contacted him directly to say it was in Forest Park. On April 13, the man dropped off his car and was told via verbal agreement that repairs would be $500. When he went to pick up his car on the 15th, he was told it would be $800. An employee said they verbally agreed on $800 but was unable to provide physical documentation of the agreement. The business wouldn’t return the driver’s key until they were paid, but police told them that, because of a lack of physical documentation of the agreement, they would have to request the unpaid $300 through civil matters. Police discovered that Escobar Auto Collision’s Cicero address is the owner’s personal residence and reported that the business is unlicensed in Forest Park.
Warrant
On April 16, police were dispatched to Dollar Tree on Roosevelt Road for a retail theft. When police made contact with the offender, he immediately admitted to committing theft and planned to sell the stolen soap, detergent, toilet paper and dog food. A Dollar Tree employee positively identified the man and stolen goods, estimated to be worth $126.50. He was charged with retail theft and a serviceable warrant for his arrest out of Cook County.
Aggravated unlawful use of weapon
On April 18, police saw a car traveling on Harrison with a suspended registration, so they pulled over the driver, who they found to have a serviceable arrest out of DuPage County. Police reported there was a pistol in the driver’s side door, so they placed the driver in custody, since the man didn’t have a concealed carry license or firearm owner’s identification. Inside the car, police found a loaded extended magazine, 18 bags with suspect cannabis, and a scale commonly used to weigh cannabis in the glove compartment. The man also had over $1,000 in cash on him. The driver was charged with his warrant, operating a car with suspended registration, not having a firearm owner’s ID card, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. The passenger was charged with possession of cannabis, possession over 100 grams, not wearing a seatbelt, and intent to deliver cannabis.
Suspicious circumstances
A woman called police on April 19 to report that she was extorted by U-Haul employees. The woman said she hired workers through U-Haul to help her move, and the company’s manager told her she’d be pre-charged $120 for the workers to load her vehicle and could pay another $120 to have them unload it. After the workers unloaded the U-Haul, they demanded $300. She didn’t pay and told police she thought the workers took the U-Haul vehicle keys, which she’s now being charged for losing. No one was charged at the time of the report.
These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated April 13 through April 19 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.