Crime & Safety

Speeding Stop Leads to Citations for Curfew, Cocaine Charges: River Forest Police Blotter

River Forest police reports, Nov. 5-11.

SUNDAY, NOV. 11

Three Charged for Spray Painting

River Forest officers were dispatched to the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge at the Des Plaines River at about 2:34 p.m. following a report that people were spray-painting there. Three people were detained by police, and an investigation determined they had spray painted "Vomet, Haxel and RYDE" on the bridge support walls.

Charged were Michael O. Battista, 21, of River Forest; Ryan E. Dennehy, 22, of Oak Park; and Asal T. Rezael, 22, of Chicago, with criminal defacement and later released on bond with a December court date.

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Rocks Shatter Car Windows

A River Forest resident told police at about 7:59 a.m. that someone threw rocks at his 2007 Lexus IS250 and shattered the rear and front driver's side windows while parked in the Metra parking lot, 401 Thatcher Ave. The damage was estimated to be more than $500.

SATURDAY, NOV. 10

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Driver Hides Identity to Avoid Arrest

Police reported that after they pulled over a vehicle at about 3:54 p.m. in the 800 block of Madison Street for crossing the yellow line and traveling 43 mph in a 25-mph zone, the driver gave a false name to the officer.

When the officer gave the woman another chance to correct her identification, they noticed a traffic citation in her purse. The woman was subsequently identified as Shamika S. Kroger, 21, of the 4200 block of west Van Buren in Chicago. Kroger was immediately taken into custody for obstructing her identification. Further investigation at the station showed that her driver's license was also revoked. Kroger was charged with a misdemeanor court of obstructing identification, driving with a revoked license, no insurance, speeding, improper lane usage and obstructed windshield. She was released on bond with a December court date.

Diesel Gas Stolen From Truck at Whole Foods

A manager at Whole Foods, 7245 Lake St., reported at 11:06 a.m. that someone siphoned about $50 in diesel gas from a generator that runs the refrigeration unit on a truck trailer used for storage in the 7200 block of Central Avenue.

Cellular Connection Burglarized

Officers were dispatched to Cellular Connection, 7261 W. Lake St., at about 1:18 a.m. for a report of a burglar alarm at the business. When they arrived, officers found that the glass in the front door was shattered. A check inside revealed that someone had ransacked the business. The store's manager arrived later and found that nothing appeared to have been taken, but a computer was damaged after it was thrown to the ground during the burglary.

FRIDAY, NOV. 9

Purse Stolen

A River Forest resident reported at 11:16 a.m. that while eating at Panera Bread, 7349 Lake St., someone stole her snakeskin purse from underneath the table where she was sitting. Also stolen with the purse were wallet containing cash, identification cards, credit cards and a pair of Cartier sunglasses. After making the report, the victim was advised to cancel her credit card by police, at which time it was found that numerous transactions had been made on them in Chicago. The loss was listed as more than $500, but a final tally is not known at this point.

THURSDAY, NOV. 8

Driving With Suspended License

Katarra Tolliver, 24, of the 2600 block of south 59th Street in Cicero, was arrested and charged with driving with a suspended license, no insurance, speeding and obstructed registration after police pulled over her car for speeding in the 900 block of Thatcher Avenue at about 4:35 p.m.

No Valid License

An officer who responded to a report of a traffic accident in the 7400 block of North Avenue at about 11:34 a.m. found that the at fault driver, Veronica Padilla, 24, of the 2400 block of north Harding in Chicago, did not have a valid driver's license or insurance. She was charged for both and for failing to reduce her speed to avoid a crash.

Cocaine, Curfew and Speeding

An officer on patrol in the 7900 block of North Avenue at about 3:21 a.m. reported observing a car traveling 65 mph in a 30-mph zone and pulled it over. The driver, Joanna Jasinska, 20, of the 2900 block of north 75th Avenue in Elmwood Park, was found by officers not to have a valid driver's license and was taken into custody. The officers requested that the car's three passengers also exit the vehicle, as it would be towed.

During a search of the car, officers found a plastic bag with about 3.8 grams of white powder suspected to be cocaine under the seat of Megan F. Fernandez, 23, of the 5000 block of west Dakin in Chicago, and she was taken into custody as well.

The two other passengers—a 17-year-old Elmwood Park Juvenile and a 17-year-old Chicago juvenile—were taken into custody on local curfew violations.

Jasinska was charged with aggravated speeding and no valid driver's license. Fernandez was charged with possession of a controlled substance and held for a bond hearing. The juveniles were cited for curfew violations and released to their parents.

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WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7

Two Arrested on Robbery Charges

Officers were dispatched to a yoga studio in the 7500 block of west Lake Street at about 8:12 p.m. for a reported strong-arm robbery. The victim told police that she had parked in front of the yoga studio when a woman knocked on her window and asked to use her iPhone. The victim allowed, and the woman then fled on foot through the parking lot with the victim in pursuit. As she was chasing the robber, another person entered her car and stole her purse.

Police later identified Dominique Davis, 20, of the 500 block of Clayon Avenue in Hillside and a 16-year-old juvenile from Chicago as suspects. Davis was found in possession of the cell phone and identified by the victim. The juvenile was found in possession of the victim's wallet and was also identified by the victim. Davis was charged with one felony count of theft and was held for a bond hearing. The juvenile was petitioned for burglary and turned over to a parent later in the evening.

TUESDAY, NOV. 6

Man Found with Methadone

On officer on patrol of in the 1100 block of north Harlem Avenue reported observing a man known to him, Brent O. Burge, 23, of the 1800 block of Karlov in Chicago, acting suspiciously. The officer stopped Burge and believed he was under the influence of something while panhandling. The officer asked him if he had anything in his possession that he was not supposed to have, to which Burge provided a bottle of Methadone that was not prescribed to him and was taken into custody. Burge was charged with possession of a controlled substance, a class four felony and held for a bond hearing.

MONDAY, NOV. 5

Aggravated Driving With License Revoked Arrest

Police arrested and charged Willie Lee Ranson, 42, of the 4200 block of west Carroll in Chicago with aggravated driving while license revoked, expired registration and no front license plate after he was pulled over on the 7300 block of Lemonyne at about 9:05 a.m. for having expired registration. Ranson was held for a bond hearing.

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. We will verify and report the outcome.


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