Man Runs Across El Tracks to Escape Police: Oak Park Police Blotter

SUNDAY, OCT. 14

Domestic Battery

Latonya M. Smith, 28, of the 3200 block of south Kenilworth in Berwyn was arrested and charged with domestic battery at 2:55 p.m. Smith was taken to the police station and held for bond hearings.

Arrested for Burglary

Calvin R. Shumate, 52, of the 600 block of north Harlem was arrested and charged with burglary to a motor vehicle on the 200 block of Forest after witnesses reported seeing him in the car at about 5:06 p.m. Shumate was stopped near the scene of the burglary by officers and was found to be in possession of the victim's medication. He was held for bond hearings.

Man Runs Across El, Highway to Escape Police

Police reported that as officers were going down onto the CTA El platform at Oak Park Avenue around 11 p.m. to look for a man suspected of battery, Janell L. Fenderson, 20, of the 1600 block of south 18th Avenue in Maywood, ran from officers as they approached.

Fenderson ran onto the El tracks and then across four lanes of traffic on the Eisenhower Expressway to escape, but was eventually caught by police. Although the battery victim did not identify him, Fenderson was charged with criminal trespass and reckless conduct and was held in lieu of bond.

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SATURDAY, OCT. 13

Man Catches Burglar in the Act

An Oak Park resident told police that he saw a man described as around 50 years old, wearing a Cubs baseball hat and carrying a well-worn gray backpack inside his car on the 300 block of south Lombard. When he confronted the man, he fled. Stolen was an iPhone charger and loose change. The loss was estimated at $37.

Catalytic Converter Stolen

An Elgin resident reported to police that the catalytic converter was stolen their 1999 Chevy Cavalier on the 6500 block of Roosevelt Road between 5:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. A similar crime was reported a few days earlier to police. The loss was estimated at $1000.

Light Fixtures Stolen

Police reported that someone entered a home on the 1000 block of north Austin Boulevard between noon and 10:30 p.m. by means of an unlocked front door and stole two half moon light fixtures worth $300.

FRIDAY, OCT. 12

Man Tries to Steal, Punches Security Guard

Police arrested and charged Kenneth W. Williamson, 48, of the 6800 block of south Talman in Chicago with felony retail theft at 4:41 p.m. on the 200 block of Lake Street. Police said Williamson attempted to steal two bottles of gin. Williamson was charged with a felony because of prior convictions and for punching the security guard at the store in the mouth. He was held for a bond hearing.

Medication Stolen

Police reported that a North Riverside resident's car was broken into while it was parked in the 200 block of south Marion overnight. The burglar used a rock to break the driver's side window and ransacked the interior of the car before removing the victim's prescribed medication. The loss was estimated at $255.

Retail Theft Arrest

Tyrone Horton, 47, of the 5800 block of west Erie in Chicago was arrested and charged with retail theft at Dominick's, 259 Lake St., at about 9:30 p.m. Horton was processed and held for a bond hearing.

Burglars Push Way Into Home

Police reported that two men pushed their way into a home in the 600 block of Humphery at about 5:50 p.m. Both men were described as between 20 and 30 years old and of medium build. One man rang the victim's doorbell and asked if they would like their yard raked of leaves. The victim declined and both burglars pushed their way into the home and demanded money. The two victims—an 80-year-old man and a 72-year-old man—complied and handed over cash. The buglers also stole a laptop before leaving through the back door. The total loss was estimated at $2,200.

Two Suspected of Stealing Wallet

Two unknown men, described as in their early 20s and of heavy build, are suspected of stealing the wallet from a Lombard resident's purse as it hung on the back of her chair in the 1100 block of Lake Street at about 1:15 p.m. The loss was estimated at $100.

Aggravated Robbery Reported

An Oak Park resident reported to police that man described as between 20 and 30 years old and wearing all black grabbed him around the neck as he was walking on the 100 block of north Taylor, tried to punch him and threw him to the ground. The robber then implied he had a gun and told the victim to empty his pockets, taking $20 and an iPod Nano. The estimated loss was $135.

THURSDAY, OCT. 11

Stolen Car Found

Police reported they found a Forest Park resident's 1995 Toyota Corolla that was stolen in the 200 block of north Oak Park on Sept. 23 located on the 900 block of south Kedzie at about 6:45 p.m.

Police Blotter information is provided by the Oak Park Police Department. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor at matthew@patch.com. We will verify and report the outcome.