Berwyn Police Blotter
Traffic stops / accidents
Friday, August 15, 2008
Loud-car roundup and a lack of civility
August 10, 2008, 9:09 AM
At Clarence and Cermak, police stopped and impounded an Olds sedan for noise. Driver Jose M. Camacho, 26, of Cicero, got tickets for noise, no license and no insurance.
11:23 AM
At Cermak and Highland, a Pontiac Grand Prix was stopped for violating the noise ordinance. In lieu of a license, the driver presented the officer with a traffic ticket. The officer wrote out the noise-violation ticket and asked the driver to sign it; he refused. The officer then explained to Randall M. Thomas, 21, of the 5400 block of west Rice, Chicago, that the tow truck was on its way and it was time for him to remove any personal items from the car. Thomas did not do so until the tow truck arrived to impound the Pontiac. According to police, Thomas yelled profanity throughout the incident. Once the car had been towed away, the officer asked Thomas to take his copy of the ticket and impound form. Thomas reportedly replied, “I ain’t taking that f^@$!#& s#!t!”. As the officer returned to his squad car, he heard Thomas yell, “F^@# Y^*!”
12:13 PM
A red Tahoe was impounded in the 2400 block of Clinton after a noise-violation stop. The $500 ticket went to driver Jose C. Guerrero, 24, of the 2400 block of Clarence.
5:11 PM
Police stopped a red Camaro for excessive noise in the 6800 block of Cermak, The car was impounded; the ticket went to driver Abel Quezada, 24, of the 6500 block of 16th.
Noise violations • Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Garage-sale signs covered license plate of revoked driver
August 9, 2008, 7:17 PM
An officer saw a yellow Toyota Corolla two-door headed westbound on 16th from Ridgeland with several signs covering its rear plate; the signs obscuring the plate advertised a garage sale. The officer, following the Toyota, saw it turn into the 1500 block of Ridgeland/Elmwood alley, then pull into a garage near the northeast end of the alley. The driver reportedly got out and waved his arms, shouting “Why are you stopping me? This is bullshit!"” The officer advised the man of the violation. When asked to show his license, the driver told police it was suspended, but in fact his license had been revoked. Police arrested Joubany Ramirez, 36, of the 1500 block of Ridgeland. The assistant state’s attorney approved a charge of felony driving on a revoked license; Ramirez was also charged with improper display of registration, suspended registration and driving uninsured.
Suspicious people, objects or events • Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Vehicle too loud? Wave goodbye
August 9, 2008, 8:13 AM
At Ridgeland and 21st, police stopped a Chevy Blazer because of its excessively loud muffler, then learned the driver had no license in the first place. Tickets for both offenses went to driver Asael Garcia, 26, of the 1600 block of Elmwood.
9:40 AM
A noise-violating Jeep was pulled over at Harvey and 21st; driver Angelica B. Mercado, 36, of the 2100 block of Ridgeland, received the $500 ticket, and the Jeep was impounded.
10:50 AM
Another Jeep impounded for noise; this one, stopped at Cermak and Gunderson. Driver Jonathan Gonzalez, 20, of the 2800 block of south Kostner, Chicago, was cited for noise and for driving unlicensed and uninsured.
11:48 AM
Exactly the same citations as above were issued to Homero Gonzalez, 22, of Cicero, after his Ford SUV was stopped for noise in the 6700 block of Cermak.
2 PM
At Oak Park and Cermak, police impounded a too-loud Ford Taurus. Driver Omar Aguilar, 22 of Cicero, also had no license and was ticketed for both offenses.
4:36 PM
In the 2200 block of Elmwood, an officer pulled over a Jeep for violating the city noise ordinance. When asked to show a license and proof of insurance, the driver instead identified himself using a Mexican ID. 21-year-old Raul Mendoza of Cicero was arrested and charged with the noise violation, expired plates, no insurance, and no driver’s license.
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Modelo-aided snooze … on Harlem
August 9, 2008, 3:02 PM
An officer was dispatched to the 2600 block of Harlem to check out a suspicious black Ford Expedition parked—in a northbound traffic lane—in the 2600 block of Harlem. The keys were still in the ignition, but the engine was not running and all lights were off. The driver was present, for the most part—he was asleep at the wheel. Numerous full cans of Budweiser beer, as well as an empty case of Modelo beer bottles and numerous Modelo bottle caps, littered the front console and were visible throughout the rest of the interior. A Spanish-speaking officer was found to ask the driver for his license and insurance; he said he had neither. Driver Ruperto Vences, 36, of the 1300 block of west Cullerton, Chicago, was charged with driving on a suspended license—for which the SUV was impounded—no insurance, improper parking in the roadway, and illegal transportation of open alcohol.
Suspicious people, objects or events • Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
It’s not a suggestion
August 8, 2008, 5:12 PM
An officer monitoring the stop sign at 37th and Ridgeland saw a black Chevy Suburban roll through the intersection without stopping. Driver Pedro Hernandez, 42, of the 2800 block of west 38th Place, Chicago, also had a suspended license, so the SUV was impounded; he was cited for both offenses.
9:04 PM
In the 7100 block of Cermak, a black Ford Expedition disregarded a clearly posted stop sign. Driver Jose T. Lobato, 29, of the 2300 block of south Avers, Chicago, also lacked a license or insurance, and received tickets for all three offenses.
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Car so loud, cop resorts to hand signals to get it to pull over
August 8, 2008, 6:31 PM
An officer stopped in traffic on Harlem heard “loud thumping bass music” coming from several car lengths behind. The culprit, a Toyota Camry, got far louder as it passed the squad car and turned onto Ogden, swerving in and out of traffic without signaling. The officer activated his lights and sirens, but was unable to get the driver’s attention. The officer then used the emergency horn, and when the driver finally looked into his rearview mirror, the officer stuck his arm out the window to indicate the Camry driver needed to pull over.
Police explained the noise ordinance to driver Carlos Camacho, 25, of Brookfield*. When asked why he swerved without signaling, Camacho reportedly stated, “That’s just how I drive”. When asked why the stereo was turned up to such a high volume, Camacho merely shrugged his shoulders. A check of his name revealed a “gang caution”. Camacho received a $500 noise ticket and the Camry was impounded.
Noise violations • Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Loud? Not allowed
August 8, 2008, 8:03 AM
Sergio Anchola, 21, of the 1200 block of Grove, got a $500 noise violation ticket and had his Buick impounded after police stopped it in the 6400 block of Cermak for excessive noise.
10:11 AM
Stopped in the 6200 block of Cermak for noise: a Ford Explorer driven by Jesus Carrera, 40, of Cicero. $500 ticket plus a tow to the impound yard for the SUV.
10:16 AM
Police could hear a Nissan Pathfinder’s stereo 100 feet away as it traveled in the 6500 and 6600 blocks of Cermak. Driver Adael Guadarrama Ramirez, 21, of Cicero, got tickets for both noise and driving without a license; the vehicle was impounded.
1:35 PM
A Jeep was stopped for noise in the 6600 block of 26th. The unlicensed driver, 24-year-old Monica E. Patino of the 7200 block of south Homan, Chicago, was cited for both offenses and the Jeep was impounded.
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Friday, August 08, 2008
Tailgating Toyota
July 30, 2008, 10:23 PM
A Toyota sedan first captured the attention of police when it blew past the stop sign at 27th and East, tailgating the vehicle just ahead of it. At Cermak, the Toyota passed the same vehicle on the right in the middle of the intersection, failing to signal any type of lane change, so it was pulled over. The officer’s view into the Toyota was obstructed by its tinted front windows. The driver identified himself via a ticket from a previous violation. Mathew M. Boblick, 25, of the 4900 block of Marine Drive, Chicago, had his license revoked on July 16, 2008. The Toyota was impounded because of the license revocation. Boblick was cited for all of the above, including the illegally tinted front windows.
Suspicious people, objects or events • Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Blood, bullet holes found in Buick
July 30, 2008, 9:53 PM
A concerned citizen reported a suspicious white Buick sedan with temporary Illinois plates, seen in the 1400 block of Kenilworth. An officer located the car, which had no lights over the rear plate, in the 1500 block of maple and stopped driver Edgar J. Sierra, 21, of Blue Island. Sierra said he was just leaving a friend’s house and everything was ok. But the officer saw both passenger-side windows were broken out, and there were apparent bullet holes on that side of the sedan. A check of Sierra’s name revealed he had a suspended license and was wanted for arrest by DuPage County. The Buick was impounded; a vehicle inventory found blood on the driver’s seat, front console and front passenger seat. Police suspected the vehicle may have been involved in a shooting around 95th and the Dan Ryan expressway at about 5 PM. Sierra was ticketed for driving on a suspended license and no rear license plate light. Police also notified the Illinois Dept. of Corrections of the charges, but they declined to issue a parole violation warrant.
Suspicious people, objects or events • Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Licenses expired—one, since 1998—but still out there, driving
July 30, 2008, 10:26 AM
An officer stopped a green Toyota van at Kenilworth and Stanley after seeing it disregard the posted No Left Turn sign at Stanley and Oak Park. Driver Victor Dorantes, 46, of the 6900 block of Riverside Drive, had a license that expired ten years ago, as well as expired insurance; he was cited for all three offenses.
5:50 PM
A white Impala disobeyed the No Left Turn 4-6 PM sign as it turned onto Maple from Ogden. Driver Johnny A. Chaves, 22, of the 2200 block of Elmwood, was also ticketed for driving unlicensed; his licensed expired in 2005.
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Thursday, August 07, 2008
I didn’t know I hit anything!
July 29, 2008, 6:56 PM
Police were summoned to the Shell gas station at 6400 Ogden after a green Chevy Monte Carlo hit a gas pump and fled the scene. The impact left the pump severely damaged and leaking gasoline. An officer spotted and stopped the Chevy at Ridgeland and Pershing. Instead of the requested license, the driver presented an Illinois state ID. Asked why he left the scene after striking the gas pump, James Earl Wooden, Jr., 25, of Matteson, reportedly stated, “I didn’t know I hit anything”. Police noticed a strong odor of alcohol about Wooden, along with his bloodshot eyes and limited short-term memory. The entire incident at the station was recorded on surveillance video. Wooden failed several field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol level of .14; the legal limit is .08. He was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, DUI, DUI over .08, no insurance, and not having his license on his person.
Drugs, alcohol, DUI • Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Speeding while suspended
July 29, 2008, 7:06 PM
A silver Buick, northbound in the 3500 block of Harlem, was stopped for doing 46 MPH in a 30 MPH zone. Driver Josefina Caraballo, 26, of the 3400 block of west Dickens, Chicago, also lacked insurance and had a suspended license; the car was impounded for the latter offense, and she received three tickets.
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Cicero men’s loud cars get impounded
July 29, 5:32 PM
Police stopped a Pontiac Grand Prix at 16th and East for violating Berwyn’s noise ordinance. Driver Manuel Uribe, 27, of Cicero, had no license or insurance, and received tickets for all three offenses. The car was impounded pending payment of the $500 fine (plus towing).
7:50 PM
At 16th and Euclid, police pulled over a Honda Civic for excessive volume. Driver Javier Soto, 24, of Cicero, received the $500 ticket, and the Civic was impounded.
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Hydrant blocking, crash
July 29, 2008, 1:19 AM
Police ticketed and towed a blue Buick with temporary plates because it was blocking a fire hydrant in the 1900 block of Euclid. The car was registered to a man in the 3200 block of north Avers, Chicago.
8:34 AM
A crash at Highland and Cermak led to the arrest of one driver: Jose I. Rogel, 21, of the 2700 block of west 23rd, Chicago. He was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and driving without a license.
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Passed-out driver confused “north”, “south”
July 29, 2008, 12:07 AM
Police suspected drunken driving when a man was found slumped in the driver’s seat of a black Chevy pickup, which was blocking the intersection at Harlem and 23rd. The driver was asleep; the motor was running. When police woke driver Jose Guzman, 27, of Summit, Guzman told them he was going home to Summit, and had come from Forest Park. When police asked which direction the truck was facing, Guzman said “south”, although the truck in was in fact facing north. Officers noticed a strong odor of alcohol about Guzman, who told them he had consumed “one beer”. Guzman failed multiple field sobriety tests and was arrested. In the Berwyn lockup, Guzman was irate and uncooperative, police said. He refused to submit to a breath test. Guzman was charged with DUI, improper parking in the roadway and driving uninsured.
Drugs, alcohol, DUI • Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink