Berwyn Police Blotter
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Man says two robbed him using a box-cutter
May 25, 2007, 6:34 AM
A 50-year-old man from the 1900 block of Grove told police he was walking through his alley when a red sedan pulled up. Two men got out and asked for the time. When he said he didn’t know the time, the two threw him against the wall of a building. The victim said one man held a box cutter to his throat, while the other stole his wallet containing his state ID and $40. The man waited half an hour before reporting the incident. He had no injuries. Later, police called the man twice but the phone just rang and rang.
Officer loses fingernail as drunk cyclist tries to elude arrest
May 25, 2007, 12:29 AM
Officers came to White Castle, 7135 Ogden, when a woman called police to say a motorcyclist behind her in the drive-thru looked highly intoxicated. The first officer to approach the cyclist could smell alcohol on the man, who gave every indication of drunkenness. The cyclist gave only a state ID when asked for his license. The officer requested it again, and also asked the man to put down the cycle’s kickstand. At this, 25-year-old Steven Fleitas of Stickney responded “F**k you!” and drove away. The officer tried to stop him by grabbing the back of the motorcycle and was dragged through the parking lot until the motorcycle crashed and fell upon him. Fleitas fled on foot, but was recaptured in the 3800 block of Maple. The officer lost an entire fingernail from his right hand. Fleitas was charged with one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding, as well as DUI.
New house features patio, series of overly familiar visitors
May 25, 2007, 12:10 AM
A woman who moved to the 3300 block of Kenilworth within the past month reported hearing someone knocking at her back patio door. She looked out and saw nobody, but noticed her back gate standing open. She also told police that during the afternoon of May 20, she was having a party when an older man --a stranger to her --walked right into her house. Finally, in the first two days after she moved to this address, another strange man entered the house through the back door. When confronted, he claimed he used to mow the lawn there. He was asked to leave.
Teen hit in leg with vodka bottle
May 24, 2007, 11:47 PM
Police came to a disturbance in the 3800 block of East to find a man involved an altercation with his 17-year-old son over money problems. The son said the dad was drinking and threw an empty vodka bottle at him.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Neither snow nor rain nor screen
May 24, 2007, 10:36 PM
A woman and her four children cowered in the basement of their flat on south Oak Park Avenue as the woman’s husband banged on the window and yelled outside. The man, from whom she is separated, broke a screen, came in through the window and punched the woman in the face and stomach with his fist. When her boyfriend intervened, the husband pulled a knife out of the sink, pointed it at the wife and said “I’ll kill you, bitch!” before the boyfriend persuaded him to leave. The woman told police she believes the husband may be a postal carrier.
Single headlight signal to police
May 24, 2007, 10:27 PM
Police at 15th and Grove stopped a silver Chevy sedan with only one headlight. The driver, 20-year-old Carlos J. Arce of Elmwood Park, was cited for the missing headlight, no seatbelt, no insurance and driving with a suspended license.
Riverside woman arrested on deceptive practice charge
May 24, 2007, 9:26 PM
A Riverside woman who bounced checks for hundreds of dollars at nearby currency exchanges, including at least one Berwyn business, was arrested. Ruby A. Navarra, 22, also had four active arrest warrants from Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Elgin and Schaumburg.
More Click It arrests
May 24, 2007, early evening
Police monitoring seatbelt use in the Cermak Plaza area caught seven people not wearing their belts and impounded one car for noise. Six drivers had no license; one had a revoked license. Drivers were from Oak Park, Cicero and North Aurora as well as one from Berwyn.
Man may have been hit with hammer
May 24, 2007, 5:57 PM
At Ogden and Oak Park, a Cicero man told police someone hit him on the head from behind. A large lump was visible on the man’s head. The man did not see the attacker, but immediately afterward noticed a man enter a sedan and flee eastbound on Ogden. A 17-year-old girl who also saw the fleeing man told police the weapon may have been a hammer. Another witness provided a possible plate number for the vehicle; the one he gave police was registered to a 1996 Ford with an East St. Louis address.
Suspicious car
May 24, 2007, 4:01 PM
A call about a suspicious vehicle in the 3100 block of Clarence led police to a 1992 Ford sedan with the keys in the ignition and a 23-year-old Chicago man at the wheel. Victor Mendieta was ticketed for driving with no license or insurance.
Daughters witness battery
May 24, 2007, 3:59 PM
A 45-year-old man was charged with domestic battery after he reportedly pulled his girlfriend to the floor and struck her during an argument. The woman’s daughters pulled him off. When police came to the residence in the 1400 block of Kenilworth, they saw the woman’s face was cut and bruised, and her knee and wrist were swollen. The offender was found upstairs.
Graffiti removed
May 24, 2007, noonish
A garage in the 1600 block of Ridgeland sporting gang graffiti symbols was photographed by police, and the graffiti was removed. Same for a gold initial spray-painted on a garage in the 2300 block of Wesley.
Ongoing dispute escalates
May 24, 2007, 10:15 AM
A dispute between tenant and landlord continued as the tenant reported someone removed the wood that boarded up his apartment doorway. The man, who now owes four months of back rent for his flat in the 3100 block of Harlem, also found his mattress and bedsprings sitting on the landing near the door. He blames the landlord for these events.
Hoop stolen
May 24, 2007, 9:07 AM
A portable basketball hoop was stolen from the 1500 block of Cuyler. The owner told police he forgot to put it away.
Big dogs at large
May 24, 2007, 8:24 AM
Two German shepherds in the 2400 block of Clarence/Wesley alley were captured. The owner, a 23-year-old man from the 2300 block of East, claimed the dogs and got a ticket for allowing them to run loose.