The Most Notorious Crimes of 2011

Oak Park and River Forest had its share of crime this year, with the latter community experiencing its first homicide since 2005 and with a choker menacing women in Oak Park. Here’s a look back at the year in crime.

Homicide in River Forest

– one a former North Chicago police officer – were charged with first-degree murder in connection with the July 11 shooting death of Chervon Alexander in a parking lot near Division Street and Bonnie Brae Place. , Devin A. Bickham, 39, both of Blue Island, had conspired with his 20-year-old son Devin Ardvell Bickham Jr., and Cardell Taylor, 35, of Chicago to kill Alexander, who authorities said was the older Bickham’s . Authorities said the older Bickham offered Taylor $400 to kill her. The older Bickham pretended to be ato the crime and called; the younger Bickham and Taylor were apprehended by Forest Park police a short time after the shooting, a .380 caliber handgun was found inside the car. The three are still in custody at Cook County Jail; their next court date is Jan. 4, 2012.

Attempted Rape, Kidnapping Disrupts River Forest

, a registered sex offender, was charged with the aggravated attempted criminal sexual assault and kidnapping of a River Forest woman on Aug. 11. According to authorities, Taylor approached the woman as she was walking in the 1300 block of William Street, grabbed her by the arms, forced her into his 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix and sped away. The victim resisted Taylor and was eventually able to fight her way out of the car. The key to the resolution, police said, was the victim’s unwillingness to surrender. Taylor remains in custody at Cook County Jail; he appeared in court Dec. 28.

The Oak Park Choker, Still At-Large?

walking alone were grabbed from behind, choked and robbed this spring in Oak Park by a man who police believe is still at large. All of the incidents took place between 11:40 p.m. and 12:45 a.m. between and late April in and near the Lake Street corridor. of the suspect had been released and the had a presence in town passing out leaflets at the Austin Boulevard and Oak Park Avenue CTA El stops. A series of images taken from a bank surveillance camera on Chicago’s West Side moments after the showed that there could be more than one offender in the cases or that a pair might be working together. The case remains unresolved.

Bleeding Heart Robbed

Police say 19-year-old Travion Trapp , demanded money from the register then ordered the female clerk to the store's basement, where he took money from a safe and locked the woman inside a "store room" before leaving. The victim, 22, ripped a pipe off the wall and began screaming until she was heard by a neighbor. Trapp was arrested about two weeks later and charged with two counts of robbery and one count each of attempted murder, aggravated kidnapping and burglary.

Bomber Bank Robbery

A man claiming to have a bomb walked out of the Street branch of Sept. 12 with an untold amount of cash after threatening a teller. The case remains unresolved. An had taken place at the downtown branch in 2010.

Teenage Drug Ring

An 11-count indictment was handed down in September against 17-year-old , who authorities said was trying to run a coke and pot ring out of an apartment in the 0-100 block of Harrison Street. Theft charges also were the 17-year-old after a number of calculators recovered during the initial arrest in were devices owned by Oak Park and River Forest High School. A .40-caliber handgun, ammunition and two safes containing 126 grams of marijuana, 29.7 grams of cocaine, $1,000 in cash, a money counting machine and scales were also found in the apartment. Two other men were charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession in connection with the drug ring. Borowski-Beszta remains in custody at Cook County Jail; his next court date is Jan. 3, 2012.

Master Key Swiped

A 15-year-old student at was Oct. 18 with theft and possession of burglary tools after school officials linked him to a locker room theft in which he used a copy of a master key. So far, the juvenile, a resident of Oak Park, has been accused in connection with one incident —the theft of $10 and two keys that took place at the school on Oct. 12. But police continue to investigate whether or not the master key is connected to several other incidents where items were stolen from gym lockers. Authorities said they are continuing to look for a former student who may have given a copy of the master key to the 15-year-old.

Shooting

Police are continuing their investigation of what led to in downtown Oak Park in June. Officers arrived at a service drive located between Lake Street and North Boulevard and began interviewing witnesses and an "alleged victim" of gunfire, a 20-year-old Oak Park man. No injuries were reported. A shell casing was recovered in the parking lot between and the apartment building at 855 Lake St. It is uncertain if this case has been resolved as of now.

Hotel Overdose

While not considered a crime, the death of a 17-year-old Wisconsin girl from a in November remains a mystery. Kimberly Ciotola, a senior at Sheboygan North High School, was found unresponsive and unconscious in the third-floor hallway of an apartment building at 855 W. Lake St. She was pronounced dead atat 5:40 a.m. There was no sign of trauma to her body. Oak Park police are still waiting for toxicology reports.

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