Berwyn Police Blotter
Consensus appears to be “he had it coming”
February 27, 2008, 8:57 PM
A woman parking her car to go to a nearby restaurant called police in alarm when she saw a man in a white T-shirt covered in blood, emerging from Family Liquors, 6434 Cermak. Arriving officers saw a pool of blood in the parkway in front of the tavern. They spoke with two female bartenders, both of whom appeared apprehensive about talking to police. When asked why police had not been called, the women said the bar’s phone does not make outgoing calls. Police tested the phone and found it was, indeed, impossible to use it to call 911. Inside the tavern, officers found blood on the floor, paper towels and Windex on the bar, and bloodstained paper towels in the trash can. It appeared to police that someone had tried to cover up the crime scene and conceal evidence. After talking to various witnesses, police learned a man from the 2100 block of Scoville had provoked an argument with one of the woman bartenders and other patrons. According to onlookers, the man grew irate, tore off his clothing down to his T-shirt, and began to flex his muscles and act in an aggressive manner. Two to three patrons defended the bartender, escorted the angry man outside, and beat him with their fists. Lack of cooperation hampered these interviews, as nobody was willing to say just who had beaten the man. Police checked patrons’ hands and clothing for blood, but found none.
Later, police found the beaten man in the lobby of his apartment building, where they found him to be intoxicated, uncooperative and downright obstinate. He said 4 or 5 men jumped him for no reason; he was treated at MacNeal Hospital.
Police also located a man near the scene who had bloody pants and a bloody sweatshirt. The man said he had been in the bar and witnessed the fight, but did not participate. He explained the blood got on his sweatshirt because it was lying on a barstool near the fight. But he would not comment on the bloodstained pants, nor offer any explanation for their condition.
Next entry: Subliterate threat left for wife
Previous entry: Writing is on the wall, and the tree