River Forest Police Blotter: Charges After Dog Poop Sewer Dump

The following items are taken from the River Forest daily summary reports. In all incidents where an arrest occurred, a charge is merely an accusation and not evidence of guilt. The arrested person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Village Ordinance: Joanna VerHalen, 55, of River Forest, was cited Sept. 18 for dumping dog feces into a sewer in the 7700 block of Lake Street and walking her dog without a leash, police said.

Criminal Damage: A BB shot out the rear window of a Mercury parked in the driveway of a home in the 1000 block of Franklin Avenue Sept. 18.  

Warrant Arrest: Margaret A. Quirk-Hartmann, 58, of Oak Park, was arrested Sept. 17 on an outstanding warrant out of DuPage County for retail theft, police said. She was apprehended during a traffic stop in the area of Monroe Avenue and Lake Street.

Theft: A license plate was stolen Sept. 17 from a 2003 Jeep Cherokee parked in the 700 block of Ashland Avenue.

Traffic Arrest: Willie B. Griffin, 49, of Berwyn, was charged Sept. 17 with driving on a suspended license and failing to signal when making a turn, police said. He was arrested after a traffic stop in the 1000 block of Harlem Avenue.

Traffic Arrest: Leopoldo Valenzuela, 47 of Chicago, was charged Sept. 17 with driving without a driver’s license after a traffic stop in the area of North and Forest Avenues, police said.

Theft: A BMX bicycle was stolen Sept. 16 during a soccer game at , 7951 Lake St.

Theft: A wallet containing $50, a driver’s license and credit cards was taken Sept. 16 from the purse of a customer at , 7349 Lake St.

Theft: Four cartons of cigarettes valued at $77.29 were stolen Sept. 15 from , 7929 North Ave.

Theft: A UPS package containing an $80 handbag was stolen Sept. 15 from the lobby of an apartment building in the 7200 block of Oak Street.

Theft: Three Chicago men were charged Sept. 15 with theft of government property and criminal trespass as they attempted to drive off with 1,000 pounds of scrap metal from River Forest Public Works garage, 45 Forest Avenue, police said. Authorities said a village employee spotted a truck loaded with material pulling out of the alley next to the garage and called police. The three in the truck were identified as Kevin Davis, 40, Eddie Davis, 38 and Ronald Campbell, 63.

Traffic Arrest: Guillermo Vela-Diaz, 49, of Chicago, was charged Sept. 14 with driving without a valid license after a traffic stop in the area of North and Kenilworth Avenues in Oak Park, police said.

Warrant Arrest: Joshua Bronson, 32, of Wheaton, was arrested Sept. 14 on an outstanding warrant out of Wheaton for domestic battery, police said. He was apprehended after a traffic stop at North Avenue and Marion Street in Oak Park.

Criminal Damage: Six youths ranging in age from 12 to 17 were detained by River Forest police Sept. 12 after they were spotted throwing rocks at moving cars on Harlem Avenue, police said. One of the rocks broke the windshield on a passing car. The victim followed the six to a home in the 7200 block of Le Moyne Avenue were three of them admitted to the vandalism. Parents agreed to pay for the damages.