Crime & Safety

Police Arrest Man Driving 84 MPH on Harlem: River Forest Police Blotter

River Forest police reports, Oct. 2-7.

SUNDAY, OCT. 7

Sexual Assault Reported

Staff at Mercy Hospital Emergency Room, 2525 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago, contacted police in River Forest at about 8 p.m. after treating a patient who said they were sexually assaulted by a friend while in River Forest. Police said the case is still under investigation.

Domestic Battery Arrest

Police arrested and later charged Christian T. Minaghan, 18, with domestic battery and two counts of resisting a peace officer at about midnight. Officers were responding to a report of a domestic dispute in Monroe Avenue. When they approached the home an occupant refused to open the door. From outside, officers could see someone threatening another person in the house who then hit a third person in the house. When one occupant opened the door to the home, officers subdued Minaghan, arrested him and transported him to the station where he was charged and held pending a bond hearing.

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SATURDAY, OCT. 6

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DUI Arrest

Police charged Elisamuel Garcia, 37, of the 9100 block of Fairview in Brookfield, with driving under the influence of alcohol at about 11:52 p.m. An officer reported seeing Garcia's vehicle in the 1300 block of Harlem Avenue driving 45 mph in a 30-mph zone while driving across the double yellow line and shifting between lanes. Officers stopped the car in the 700 block of Harlem and observed indications that the driver was impaired. After failing field sobriety test, Garcia was taken to the River Forest Police Station, where he registered .121 on a Breathalyzer test and was then charged, police said. Garcia was also charged with a felony DUI charge, driving with a revoked license, driving without insurance, speeding, improper lane usage, illegally transporting alcohol and other traffic offenses. Garcia was held pending a bond hearing.

Truck Overweight

Police cited the driver of a pickup truck as a representative of the truck's owner that was more than 2,800 pounds overweight at about 8:25 a.m.

Man Tries to Steal Toothbrushes, Oral Care Products

Police responded to Jewel Foods, 7525 Lake St., after employees reported that a shoplifting suspect had fled from the store after being confronted. Officers searched the area and found a man fitting the description hiding in a medical building in the 7400 block of Lake Street. Randy J. McKenzie was identified as the shoplifter by store employees, arrested and taken to the station, where he was charged with felony retail theft and possession of drug paraphernalia. The merchandise, which police said McKenzie abandoned at the cash register, included 27 toothbrushes and other oral care products worth $262.18.

FRIDAY, OCT. 5

Tires Deflated on Two Cars in Possible Issue With Cleaners

A River Forest resident reported that someone punctured the tire of their vehicle while it was parked in their building's lot in the 1500 block of Monroe between 8 p.m. Oct. 4 and 9:45 a.m. Oct. 5. The owner of a BMW at the same location reported that their tires were flattened also between 8-8:30 a.m. resulting in $300 in damage. The victim of the first reported incident told police he suspects the damage to both vehicles is related to the recent firing of a cleaning company.

Man Arrested for Driving 54 Over

Alex Michael Storm, 25, of the 2200 block of north Harding in Chicago, was charged with reckless driving at about 1:57 a.m. An officer reported that they observed Storm in the 1000 block of Harlem Avenue driving a white Ford Expedition at 84 mph in a 30-mph zone. After stopping the vehicle, the officer learned that Storm was driving under a mandatory statutory suspension. Storm was also charged with driving with a suspended license, driving without insurance, illegal transportation of alcohol and other traffic violations. His vehicle was seized and he was later released on bond pending a trial.

THURSDAY, OCT. 4

These Boots Aren't Made for Stealing

Police responded to Famous Footwear, 7231 Lake St., at about 3:48 p.m. for a report of retail theft. An employee told police that two people—a man and a woman—stole two pairs of shoes worth $128. The employee told police that the two created a disturbance to distract employees while the man removed a pair of Wolverine boots. Later, the female suspect gave false information to employees about the direction the man fled. When she was asked to open her bag, she too fled the store with a pair of Nike Exceed shoes. Police said surveillance recordings were being reviewed to attempt to identify the suspects.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 3

Check Stolen and Signature Forged

A River Forest resident reported to police at about 1:33 p.m. that someone had intercepted a check sent to him, forged his signature and then cashed the check at a bank outside River Forest. Copies of the check were documented for evidence and the victim will contact the bank where the check was cashed to start an investigation.

IRS Comes Calling

A River Forest resident told police he received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service alleging that he had not paid taxes for several years on his job in St. Louis. The income and job history were reportedly based on fraudulent use of the victim's social security number, he told police. The report was filed for documentation purposes and the matter was reported for investigation to the IRS and Social Security Administration.

TUESDAY, OCT. 2

Retail Theft Arrest

Police arrested and charged a 44-year-old Bensenville woman with a village ordinance for petit larceny after security staff at Whole Foods, 7245 Lake St., detained her for attempting to conceal merchandise worth less than $30.

Police Blotter information is provided by the River Forest 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.


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