Woman Robbed at Blue Line; Several Cars Burglarized

Oak Park police reports, April 26-29.

MONDAY, APRIL 29 Someone broke into a Jeep Cherokee in the 100 block of Erie and stole the car's battery.  Jessie D. Fells, 49, of Berwyn, was charged with felony retail theft in the 2600 block of S. California in Chicago.  Someone entered the basement storage area of a building in the 1100 block of Washington and stole two bikes. One was a green women's Raleigh hybrid bike, and the other was a silver and black men's 21-speed Mongoose bike.  SUNDAY, APRIL 28 Francisca S. Cruz, 20, of the 5200 block of W. Lemoyne St. was arrested and charged with three counts of burglary to a motor vehicle for cars she burglarized on the 600, 700 and 800 blocks of N. Oak Park Ave. She is being held for bond hearings. SATURDAY, APRIL 27 Two people robbed a …

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VIDEO: Des Plaines River Flooding Caught on Film

The Video Catalyst Project posted various photos of the flooding in the Forest Park-Oak Park-River Forest area.

No one wants to re-live the flooding that occurred throughout the Chicago area a couple of weeks ago, but if there's one way to do that, it's by watching videos.  The Video Catalyst Project shared several flooding videos on its YouTube channel, including spots along the Des Plaines River, Interstate 290 and the CTA line. More Flood Coverage PHOTO: Water Erupts from Manhole Cover at OPRF FEMA Aid Possible for Area Flood Damage Flooding: Des Plaines River Below Flood Stage Amazing Photos of April's Floods in the Chicago Area More Like Brookfield Aquarium: Zoo Floods, Closes (Photos) Rainfall Totals in Chicago Suburbs

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28 Cartons of Cigarettes Stolen, CTA Flasher in Oak Park

It cost nearly $2,500 in smokes. Oak Park police reports, March 8-9.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9 A man stole nearly $2,500 worth of cigarettes from a van in the 500 block of S. Austin. He grabbed 28 cartons of cigarettes from an unattended van and fled on foot. He was described as a white or Hispanic male, 35 years old, 6 feet tall and about 170 pounds. The man was wearing a gray jacket and blue pants.  An Oak Park juvenile was charged with theft after stealing items from a package delivered to a home in the 100 block of Madison Street.  D'Angelo C. Smith, 18, of Chicago, and an Oak Park juvenile were charged with battery after punching a Joliet resident in the head and face. The juvenile was released to his parent, and Smith was held in lieu of bond.  FRIDAY, MARCH 8 A man exposed himself to someone as they were …

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CTA Bodyslammer Runs Off: Police Blotter

Oak Park police said a man attacked two juveniles on the El platform.

Police reported a man who allegedly body-slammed another person at the Oak Park Blue Line stop last week. According to Oak Park police, the attacker was last seen running eastbound toward East Avenue at 12:05 a.m. Feb. 19.  The offender is described as a man in his 20's, about 5-foot-9 and with a medium build. He was wearing a black hoodie, black jeans and brown boots.  Police said the victim reported being punched in the face and then body-slammed on the El platform. A second victim was hit in the chin when trying to get the attacker off of the first person he hit. Both victims were juveniles, police said.  Are you a fan of true crime? "Like" the Crime-n-Shame page on Facebook and get clued in on mischief making and weird crime throughout…

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Concrete Canvas: Area Artists Sought for Mural Project Along Green Line

The Oak Park Area Arts Council is seeking applications from artists who want to create public works of art along the Green Line.

Are you the Picasso of pavement? The Oak Park Area Arts Council is seeking 15 artists for mural projects to continue the transformation of the retention walls that support the CTA Green Line from drab, grey concrete into beautiful works of public art. The project was initially launched in 2010 to give Oak Park residents and visitors something nice to look at as they stroll the village and foster outlets for local creativity. Murals have already been completed at North and South boulevards and Oak Park Avenue and east and west of Marion Street. Still, the council is looking for full coverage. Selected artists will be given a $500 stipend for materials prior to beginning their work and another $500 upon completion of the project. The murals …

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Poop-Filled Sock Used in Attack on Blue Line

Oak Park police are seeking help to identify the assailant in a Blue Line attack near the Austin stop last week.

Oak Park Police are seeking the public’s help identifying a man who struck a woman with a sock filled with feces as she rode a Blue Line train eastbound near Austin Boulevard at about 4:50 p.m. on Wed., Dec. 12. The 21-year-old victim told police she had boarded the Blue Line at Oak Park Avenue. As the train arrived at the Austin stop, the suspect struck her with the sock then fled up the exit ramp and continued on foot north on Austin. CBSChicago is reporting that the woman, who came to Oak Park six weeks ago to live with a family and provide in-home child care, said she was riding an east-bound train from Oak Park to Chicago when the assault occurred. Police hope images captured by CTA cameras will help identify the suspect. Anyone with …

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Beer Company Sponsors Free CTA Rides on NYE

MillerCoors is paying the tab for Chicago residents to take the train or bus home instead of drinking and driving.

CTA Holiday Train Hits Green Line, Blue Line

The CTA Holiday Train, which has become a Chicago tradition since 1992, is up and running once again. It will make its way to the Green Line on Nov. 28 and Blue Line on Dec. 6-8.

The Chicago Transit Authority has once again gotten into the spirit of the holiday season with its Holiday Train, which began its annual run on Nov. 23. The train is decked out with garland, bows, thousands of lights and hand poles wrapped to look like candy canes, in addition to an open car in the middle that carries Santa Claus, his reindeer and several decorated Christmas trees. "It is a unique thing to Chicago," said CTA Media Spokesperson Catherine Hosinski. "No other city has an in-service train like this. Over the 21 years, this has become a tradition among Chicagoans and their families. They make this part of their holiday season traditions, to go out and see it and ride it and say 'hi' to Santa." The Holiday Train will run on all …

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Frankfort Man Killed After Fall at Forest Park El Stop

Authorities say Jeffrey Knoll, of Frankfort, was electrocuted after falling onto the rail tracks.

A 28-year-old man was electrocuted after falling onto the rail tracks at the Forest Park Transit Center on Tuesday, authorities said. The victim has been identified as Jeffrey Knoll, of the 100 block of Luther Lane in Frankfort. Here's the Forest Park Review on what led to Knoll's death: Witnesses said Knoll and a female companion had been riding the train earlier, drinking alcohol from open containers. The two exited the train at the Desplaines stop and sat on the platform, continuing to drink and refusing to leave, CTA personnel told police. CTA summoned Forest Park police to remove the two, but before police could arrive, Knoll fell off the end of the platform onto the third rail and was electrocuted, according to reports. He was …

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Oak Park Gets $1.1 Million for Upgrades Near Harlem Rail Station

Federal cash to pay for underground and street-level upgrades.

The area near the Harlem Avenue CTA station will get a sprucing up, courtesy of new federal grant money. The $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation's "Transportation, Community and System Preservation" (TCSP) program will help pay for improvements near the Green Line station, from Marion Street running west along South Boulevard to Harlem Avenue. Officials in Oak Park say they plan to replace underground infrastructure, construct wider sidewalks, shorten crosswalk distances, improve area lighting and add more seating — a compliment to the work recently completed along South Marion Street. Earlier: South Marion to Get $5.4 Million Facelift In a news release, Oak Park officials said the renovations will be key to …

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