Man Arrested After Seen Pushing Snow Blower at 3 AM: River Forest Police Blotter

SUNDAY, DEC. 16

Burglary Reported

A resident of the 500 block of Edgewood reported to police that between noon Dec. 9 and 11:30 a.m. Dec. 16, someone entered their unlocked garage and stole a brass bed frame worth $800 and a Toro wood chipper worth $750. A ladder and two gas-powered hedge trimmers were moved to the rear, but were left behind.

Battery Arrest

An officer on patrol at 1:39 a.m. in the 700 block of Harlem said a man and woman were fighting while a third person watched. The officer separated the two, but when the officer attempted to handcuff the man, he broke away and attempted to run. Paul Skarr, 28, of the 100 block of Forest Place in Oak Park, was restrained by police and taken into custody.

The female combatant provided officers with a name that could not be verified and appeared to be false, they reported. Jeanine J. Jones, 23, of the 5600 block of west Adams in Chicago, was eventually identified and was also arrested.

Skarr was charged with resisting a peach officer, obstructing police, battery to a police officer and aggravated assault and was held for bond. Jones was charged with obstructing identification and held pending a bond hearing.

A 51-year-old man from Oak Park was also detained for investigation and later released without charge.

FRIDAY, DEC. 14

Car Crash Leads to Fight

River Forest police responded to a car crash and altercation at 9:31 p.m. at the intersection of North Avenue and Monroe and found two women involved in the crash arguing, as well as members of their family, who had arrived to support them.

Both drivers told police they fought and pushed each other after the accident. Both accused the other of starting the fight, and both women were taken to the police station. One driver, Alisa A. Harmon, of the 1300 block of north Laramie in Chicago, was cited for disorderly conduct and will appear at an administrative hearing on April 2. 

Trespassing Charge

An officer on patrol in River Forest Town Center reported seeing a man standing near the entrance of Panera Bread, 7349 Lake St., who had previously been banned from the area because of repeated criminal accusations. The officer, in plain clothes, approached the man and was immediately solicited for money. After talking with the man, the officer reported that he knew he was banned from the area and the officer arrested him. Jeremiah L. Ollison, 23, was taken to the station where he was cited for criminal trespass and later released on bond pending trial.

Business Owner Reports Suspicious Incident

The owner of a River Forest business in the 7600 block of Lake Street, reported that a caller called to place an order for flowers and cash to be sent to an address in Forest Park and offered payment in the form of a credit card. The credit card company declined payment and indicated the name did not match the card number. No delivery was made. The same person then called again and offered another card at a different address. Although no transaction was made in either case, the owner reported it to police to assist in any investigation.

Man Sleeping in Car Arrested for DUI

An officer on patrol at Lathrop and Madison reported seeing a vehicle stopped in a no-parking zone. When the officer approached the car, he noticed the engine was still running and the man in the driver's seat appeared to be asleep. The officer had trouble waking the man up, but when he awoke, the man displayed indications he was intoxicated.

Mitchell B. Davis, 42, of the 0-100 block of Hyde Park in Bellwood, was arrested and taken to the station after failing field sobriety tests. Davis was later charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while his license was revoked, operating a motor vehicle without insurance and several minor, related traffic offenses and held pending bond.

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MONDAY, DEC. 10

Theft Arrest

An employee of a River Forest business reported to police at 9:20 a.m. that her wallet was stolen from the business between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Dec. 8. The loss included $70 in cash, a driver's license, credit cards and personal information. 

Money Withdrawn From Account

A resident told police that $5,166.92 was withdrawn from his bank account and deposited into other accounts between Dec. 5-6. The fraudulent transactions were discovered by Citibank and are being investigated by their fraud department.

Man Found Pushing Stolen Snow Blower

An officer on patrol in the 8200 block of Lake Street reported seeing a man pushing a snow blower down the sidewalk at 3:14 a.m. The officer cited the time of day and weather conditions as reasons why he pulled his car over to talk with the man. When the man saw the officer, he immediately abandoned the snow blower and jumped a 6-foot fence behind a home in the 500 block of Auvergne.

Joseph Callum, 48, of the 400 block of north Second Avenue in Maywood, was later arrested and taken to the station. Callum was charged with criminal trespass and obstructing justice.

The owner of the snow blower has not been identified by police, and police are holding the snow blower until the owner is found.