Berwyn Police Blotter
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Stickney woman charged after accident
May 16, 2008, 2:31 AM
A witness to an accident at Ogden and Home told police he heard a loud crash, went outside and saw a vehicle up on the sidewalk with a woman standing next to it. The witness went inside to call police; when he returned, the woman was gone. Police located a woman matching the man’s description; she was positively identified as the one he saw after the crash. Danielle N. Winters, 22, of the 4100 block of Oak Park, Stickney, was cited for leaving the scene of an accident, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and driving without insurance.
Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Blood’s pretty messy, too
May 16, 2008, 1:29 AM
A 46-year-old woman in the 1900 block of Euclid told police she was angry with her 51-year-old boyfriend “for being messy”. Before calling police, the woman said, they had an argument during which she put her hand through a glass window in a fit of anger. The responding officer observed blood splattered on the floors of the living room, kitchen and hall. The woman also claimed the man tried to strangle her, and stated she had consumed a pint of whiskey and a few beers. The woman, whose speech was slurred and erratic, showed no injuries consonant with a strangling—just the self-inflicted hand wounds. The boyfriend told police she “usually” does this when she drinks. Both parties agreed to go to different rooms for the night.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
EYENET: new police technology pays for itself right away
May 16, 2008
A new device used by the Berwyn police department to instantly read license plates—and compare them to a list of people with five more more unpaid city tickets—made its debut here at the beginning of the month, according to police chief William Kushner. Right now, just one police car is equipped with an EYENET unit, which cost $10,000.
On May 1st, 2008, it captured $7800 in revenue in its first 8 hours of use. The device locates cars eligible for a wheel lock or “boot” much faster than eyes alone, and enables the city to zero in on ticket scofflaws in a timely manner.
EYENET can be also be used by sworn police officers to locate stolen vehicles and vehicles wanted in connection with crimes, increasing the speed and efficiency of the process.
Announcements • Miscellaneous • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
DUI arrest for West Chicago man
May 16, 2008, 1:20 AM
An officer at 15th and Harlem noticed a green Chevy Cavalier because it was parked on a sidewalk. The two occupants were asleep in the front seats. The vehicle bore Illinois dealer plate 4360 B. The officer opened the driver’s door, saw the key was still in the ignition, smelled a strong alcoholic odor, and woke driver Juan Alcantara, 42, of West Chicago. When asked to show his driver’s license, Alcantara instead showed an Illinois state ID. The officer asked again; Alcantara was unable to locate the license and just handed the officer his wallet. The officer pointed out the license to Alcantara and requested that he remove it. A similar routine applied to the insurance card. Alcantara told the officer he and the woman had been at Lalo’s restaurant. Asked why he parked on the sidewalk, Alcantara told police officer the woman --a 29-year-old resident of Milwaukee—felt sick, so they stopped and fell aleep. The woman woke and appeared highly intoxicated. When asked whether she knew where she was, she initially stated “Chicago.” When told that was incorrect, she guessed “Lisle” and then “Milwaukee”. An ambulance was summoned for her. Alcantara had a blood alcohol level of 0.136, in excess of the legal limit of .08. He was charged with DUI, no insurance and driving on the sidewalk.
Drugs, alcohol, DUI • Suspicious people, objects or events • Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Cicero man charged with retail theft
May 15, 2008, 5:44 PM
Store employees at Valle Produce, 6323 Cermak, told police they detained a man they said tried to take five magazines out of the store without paying. The suspect told police he had a receipt, so the officer told him to show it. The man then said he left it in his car. The officer viewed surveillance video of the incident. It reportedly showed the man attempt to leave the store, then remove the magazines from inside his jacket and hand them to the clerk. The store manager signed a complaint of retail theft against Mark L. Turecek, 57, of Cicero,
Market research conducted at Walgreen’s, bus stop
May 15, 2008, 5:15 PM
A police sergeant came to Cermak Plaza after callers reported a man selling marijuana to people in Walgreen’s and at the 23rd and Harlem bus stop. He found a man matching the description given to dispatchers; the man said he “knew who called” and stated that he was asking people if they wanted to buy weed. He added that he was merely trying to get an idea of how many people that might be. The man said he had no weed on him, and gave permission for a search of his person. During the search, the sergeant located a hard eyeglass case in the man’s pocket. In the case were three clear baggies containing a total of 2.1 grams of marijuana. After this discovery, the man—19-year-old Tyrone L. Bennett, 19, of the 1500 block of south Trumbull, Chicago—stated he was just going to sell the baggies because he was “bored.” Bennett was charged with possession and unlawful delivery of marijuana.
Drugs, alcohol, DUI • Memorable incidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
No seat belt, expired plate and no licenses
May 15, 2008, 11:33 AM
Police stopped a Ford Taurus in the 6500 block of Cermak because the driver wore no seat belt. Madel C. Vega-Ramirez, 39, of the 1400 block of Maple, was issued tickets for that and for driving unlicensed and uninsured.
5:28 PM
The plates on a white Chevy van expired in April, so police made the van pull over in the 6500 block of 16th. Driver Angel Jimenez, 29, of the 3000 block of west 53rd Place, Chicago, was cited for that as well as for driving with neither license nor insurance.
Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Landlady’s husband in doghouse
May 15, 2008, 2008, 1:14 PM
A 41-year-old man married to the owner of a building in the 1800 block of Gunderson was accused of getting into a tenant’s belongings. The tenant told police she found the intoxicated man going through her stuff, so she said “Get out!” and he did. When the landlady arrived, she stated she intended to divorce the man because of his drinking, and she assured the tenant this would not happen again. The drunken man was gone before police arrived.
Disorderly conduct • Drugs, alcohol, DUI • Trespassing • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Graffiti and vandalism
May 15, 2008, 10:49 AM
Two overhead garage doors in the 3800 block of Grove were defaced with red spray paint.
4:11 PM
The owner of a building in the 1800 block of Harlem reported finding an apartment window shattered.
Graffiti / vandalism / criminal damage • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Alley driver unlicensed
May 15, 2008, 10:48 AM
An officer saw a black Ford pickup truck drive in the 3200 block of Harvey/Lombard alley, then observed as a man got out of the driver’s side and a woman exited the passenger side. When the officer ran the truck’s plate, it came back “No Record on File”. The officer asked for the man’s license and learned that neither he nor the woman spoke English, so a second officer arrived to translate. Police learned that driver Javier Bolanos, 34, of the 2800 block of south Drake, Chicago had bought the truck in April and proceeded to drive it, even though he had no insurance and had never gotten a driver’s license. Bolanos received tickets for prohibited alley traffic and for driving without license or insurance.
Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Berwyn juvenile charged with felony jewelry theft from North Riverside Mall
From the Riverside/Brookfield Landmark:
Retail theft
A 12-year-old Berwyn girl was petitioned to juvenile authorities for a felony count of retail theft after reportedly walking out of J.C. Penney at North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road, without paying for any of the 22 items of jewelry reportedly found in her possession.
A second 12-year-old Berwyn girl, who reportedly was seen by store security selecting items and passing them to the other girl, was not charged. In all, the jewelry was valued at just under $340.
http://www.rblandmark.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=12&ArticleID=3836&TM=30022.13
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Blown stop, no front plate
May 15, 2008, 8:22 AM
An officer saw a Ford Taurus westbound on 34th as it slowed down, then accelerated through the stop sign at 34th and Gunderson, so he made the car pull over. Driver Ofelia Rodriguez, 25, of Cicero, was cited for blowing the stop, no license and no insurance. She was identified via fingerprints as she carried no photo ID>
10:33 Am
Police stopped a tan Dodge Stratus at Cermak and Cuyler because the car had no front plate. Driver Juana Abarca, 25, of Cicero, was unable to present the required driver’s license, just a Mexican ID. A check of his name revealed his license had been revoked in February of 2008 for a DUI conviction. He was cited for driving on a revoked license and no front plate; the car was impounded.
Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Safety checkpoint takes revoked, unlicensed drivers off road
May 15, 208, 12:03 AM
Police operated a traffic safety checkpoint for several hours at Cermak and Harlem, stopping cars randomly as well as for observed violations. A silver Suzuki 4-door with a cracked windshield was stopped in the 7000 block of Cermak. Driver Luis A. Roman, 23, of the 2600 block of Cuyler, proved to have a license that expired in June of 2006. He was cited for the defective equipment and driving without a valid license.
12:14 AM
A blue Dodge Neon was randomly stopped. Driver Rafael Gomez, 34, of the 2500 block of Harding, Chicago, had a revoked license as well as an active DUI-related arrest warrant out of Chicago. He was arrested and charged with driving on a revoked license, then held for Chicago police. The car was impounded.
12:18 AM
A blue Ford Explorer was stopped at random; its driver could not show the requested license and proof of insurance. Roberto T. Mendoza, 31, of the 2100 block of north LaTrobe, Chicago, was ticketed for driving unlicensed and uninsured.
A Chevy Impala was stopped for having a tinted license plate cover obscuring the plate and for having no light on the plate. Driver Pascual Rodriguez was cited for the above offenses, as well as for driving without license or insurance.
1:23 AM
A silver Chrysler convertible was pulled over because it had no front license plate. Driver Alvaro D. Contreras, 38, of the 7000 block of west 71st, Chicago, identified himself with a state ID rather than the requested driver’s license. A check of his name showed his license had been revoked. He was charged with feliony aggravated driving on a revoked license and for the missing front plate.
1:27 AM
A Pontiac Grand Am stopped at Wisconsin and Cermak was driven by Gabriela Aburto, 34, of Berkeley; she was cited for driving unlicensed.
1:28 AM
Police randomly selected a Chevy Lumina to check for safety compliance. Driver Cain Salas, 48, of Cicero, used to have a license, but it was revoked in 1991 and had never been reinstated in the 17 intervening years. He was charged with driving on a revoked license. He was also held for an active DuPage County arrest warrant.
1:50 AM
A Honda Civic was stopped at random in the 7100 block of Cermak. Driver Carlos M. Diaz, 21, of the 2500 block of south Drake, Chicago, was cited for driving with neither license nor insurance.
Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Monday, May 19, 2008
Victim: gang slogans, club involved in 31st and East disturbance
May 14, 2008, 4:49 PM
Police responding to a disturbance in the 3000 block of Clarence met with the complainant at the corner of Clarence and 31st. The man said he saw a brown Buick with temporary Illinois plates run the stop sign at 31st and East, then pull into the alley behind the 6600 block of 31st. The victim said the two men in the Buick yelled at him, leading him to believe they needed help, so he exited his vehicle. But as he approached the pair, he said, one man produced a silver-color club from the Buick and came toward him. Now believing himself in danger of assault from the club-wielding man, the victim returned to his car and phoned 911. He said a second man yelled gang slogans at him. The victim positively identified both men after police stopped them. Police charged Vicente A. Hernandez, 19, of the 3700 block of Home, with one count of aggravated assault. Victor A. Smekal, 19, of the 6600 block of 31st, was charged with disorderly conduct. The silver-color club was recovered as evidence.
Disorderly conduct • Gang activity • Weapons-related • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
No forced entry in garage burglary
May 14, 2008, 4:40 PM
A man in the 1800 block of Oak Park told police he saw a man inside his garage. When he approached the garage, two men fled the garage on foot. When the resident checked the garage, he found his car with the trunk and driver-side door open. The stereo was pulled out. There was no sign of forced entry. The victim said the fleeing offenders were male whites.