Police responded to Walmart, 1300 Desplaines Ave., about 8:30 p.m. on April 26, on a call that two people had attempted to steal nearly $200 worth of merchandise from the store.
A loss prevention employee detained Anthony Gray, 57, of Chicago who was carrying a backpack stuffed with $100 worth of clothes. Walmart employees were unable to stop the woman, 41, who was with Gray, as she fled north through the store’s parking lot.
A name check revealed that Gray had an active warrant out from the Chicago Police Department for retail theft, as well as 10 previous felony convictions for theft. Gray received a felony charge of retail theft from Forest Park police.
The woman eventually returned to Walmart, saying she came back because the Chicago man had her cellphone. “I just lost my job,” she told police. She told police she tossed approximately $100 worth of stolen goods in the Walmart parking lot because she felt scared. Officers recovered the goods behind the shopping center.
She received a misdemeanor charge for retail theft.
Traffic stop reveals cannabis
Police pulled over Daz Harris, 31, for driving with a suspended license about 5:17 p.m., April 25, on the 1100 block of Harlem Avenue.
Harris told police his license was suspended due to unpaid tickets. He could not provide proof of insurance to officers. Police smelled marijuana in the vehicle. Harris told police “it might be old blunts” and pointed to an ashtray.
While officers searched the vehicle, they smelled a strong odor of cannabis in the locked glove compartment. Harris unlocked the compartment, which revealed a plastic bag containing 57 grams of marijuana.
Harris received a felony charge for delivery/manufacture of cannabis over 30 grams, and misdemeanor charges for driving with a suspended license and possession of cannabis.
Arrested with knife at liquor store
Police arrived at Jimmy’s Tobacco, 315 Harlem Ave., at 7:04 p.m. on April 22, on a call that a Forest Park man was threatening customers with a knife and a box cutter.
Officers found the suspect sitting in an alley on the 300 block of Elgin Avenue. He told police he had knives in his possession.
Police ordered him to keep his hands where they could see them. He responded by reaching into his back waistband, revealing a knife from his back pocket and dropping the folding knife on the ground. Officers saw a second knife strapped to the man’s belt.
The man was handcuffed and police removed the knife from his belt.
A group of people at the tobacco store identified the suspect, saying that when they arrived, he appeared to be verbally harassing a woman. He then approached another woman, reached into his pocket and revealed a box cutter. The woman exited the scene and told police he appeared highly intoxicated.
The man told officers he was approaching the liquor store when a group of teens “from the West Side” came up to him. He feared they would “jump” him, thought they mistook him for a rival gang member, and took out his knife to protect himself. Officers reported he was highly intoxicated.
The man was charged with assault and public intoxication.
Wallet stolen
Sometime between 7 p.m. on April 26 and 10 a.m. on April 27, someone stole a wallet from a Cadillac parked on the 7500 block of Roosevelt Road. The victim told police the wallet contained her social security card, her daughter’s social security card, state ID and checkbook. Police did not observe any signs of forced entry.
The victim added that she had driven four of her brother’s friends the day before and left her wallet with them unattended while she pumped gas.
Thief pockets watch
Sometime between 9 p.m. on April 25 and 7:15 a.m. on April 26, someone stole a watch from a vehicle parked in a garage on the 1000 block of Ferdinand Avenue. The victim told police the garage door was open and the vehicle was unlocked.
Burglar rides off with bike
Sometime during the week of April 22, someone stole a bike from a storage unit in a building on the 1000 block of Desplaines Avenue. The Trek Navigator is valued at $420. The victim told police burglars cut and removed the lock securing the bike.
These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, April 22-29, 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.
Nona Tepper
