Resident Fights Off Robbers With Carpet Cleaner: Oak Park Police Blotter

WEDENSDAY, NOV. 21

Resident Fights Off Robbers

An Oak Park resident told police that as he was cleaning his car in the 1100 block of north Humphrey Street at about 7 p.m., he was approached by two men, one of whom told him, "Gimme what you got."

The resident then sprayed both men in the face with carpet cleaner. One of the men then punched the victim, causing him to fall to the ground. Both men then fled the area, and were last seen headed on foot eastbound on Greenfield toward Humphery. During the incident, the victim reported losing a set of keys that he had in his possession prior to the incident.

The two men were described as black, in their early-20s and of thin build. One man was reported to have had dreadlocks and a goatee.

TUESDAY, NOV. 20

Armed Robbery Reported

Two juvenile Oak Park residents said they were robbed at gunpoint in the 1100 block of south Taylor at about 6:50 p.m. The victims told police that two men approached the rear window of their car and showed them a black, semi-automatic pistol and demanded what they had. One of the victims handed over a Sprint HTC cell phone and both offenders fled to a black Escalade and fled southbound down the Taylor/Lyman alley.

One offender was described as black, between 20-30 years old, of thin build and average height, and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black beanie cap. The second offender was described as black, between 20-25 years old, with long dreadlocks and bleached blond tips. The estimated loss by police was $150.

MONDAY, NOV. 19

Locker Thefts Reported

A locker was reported burglarized to police in the 200 block of south Marion Street between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Stolen was the victim's cell phone, wallet, identification cards and $120 in cash. The total estimated loss was $709.

Another locker theft occurred between 2:10 p.m. and 3:05 p.m. in the 200 block of Scoville. The victim's cell phone was stolen for an estimated loss of $500.

Retail Theft

Nelson Pilar, 44, of the 3800 block of west Gladys in Chicago, was charged with retail theft at about 2:38 p.m. in the 400 block of Harlem. Police said Pilar removed clothes from a business without paying.

An Oak Park juvenile was also charged with retail theft at about 3:06 p.m. in the 200 block of Lake Street after removing various alcohol products and leaving the store without paying, police reported. The juvenile was taken to the police station and later released to his mother.

Cannabis Possession

Daniel O. Ortiz, 20, of the 3500 block of south Harlem Avenue in Berwyn, charged with possession of cannabis along with Joel Verdin, 20, of the 100 block of Third Avenue in Joliet. Both men were arrested following a traffic stop by a K-9 unit of the Oak Park Police Department. Ortiz was later released on a $1,500 bond. Verdin was also found wanted on a warrant out of Will County for driving with a suspended license and was later released on a $2,000 and $5,000 bond. Both were issued a December 24 court date.

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.