Berwyn Police Blotter
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Unsafe child-toting
August 29, 2008 10:22 AM
An officer in the 7000 block of Cermak noticed a GMC pickup truck because, between the male driver and a woman passenger in the front, two children sat. The kids were not wearing seat belts. Once police curbed the truck, they noticed a third unsecured child: a three-year-old was sitting on the floor at the feet of the 23-year-old woman passenger. Driver Ruben A. Salcedo, 24, of the 6600 block of south Washtenaw, Chicago, had a suspended license, so the truck was impounded. He was also cited for not wearing a seat belt and not having the small child in a car seat.
Bicycles, car battery and a PS3 land in the wrong hands
August 29, 2008, 3:03 AM
Someone entered a Ford pickup truck, while it was parked in the 1300 block of Wesley, then popped the hood and cut wires in order to steal the vehicle’s battery.
5:40 AM
A green and white Mongoose bicycle was reported stolen. A woman told police she had parked her bike at Women’s Workout World, in the 6300 block of Cermak, at about 8 PM the previous night. Half an hour later, the bike was gone.
3:23 PM
An employee of Gamestop, 6631 Roosevelt, told police a man came in asking about the new Madden game for Playstation 3. The clerk went to fetch the game, then heard a thump. When he looked up, he saw the thief leaving the store with a PS3 in his hands, as a second offender held the door open for him from the outside. Both men fled eastbound through the parking lot, then south onto Clarence, possibly to a waiting vehicle. The victim said the offender was a male black, 5’8”, with short hair, wearing a black T-shirt and jeans; he did not get a good look at the accomplice.
6:39 PM
A black BMX style bicycle was reported stolen from the 3200 block of Wenonah.
Main Street • Theft • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Burglar gets away with cheap beer
August 29, 2008,2:30 AM
Police responded to a report of a burglary in progress at Green Acres grocery, 2630 Ridgeland, finding the front glass door shattered. A witness told police he heard breaking glass and saw a man enter the store. The witness called 911; when he looked again, he saw the burglar fleeing northbound on Ridgeland, then possibly westbound in the 26th Place/26th St. alley. The store owner said between six and 12 Busch beers were missing.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Hit-and-run victim tracks offending car to scene of second collision
August 20, 2008, 8:16 PM
Police arrived at the scene of a hit-and-run in the 7100 block of 26th Place, where they found a silver Honda sedan with heavy front-end damage, in a collision with a parked Honda Civic. The driver of the offending vehicle, Maria E. Cross, 56, of the 1800 block of East, appeared intoxicated and failed several field sobriety tests; she refused a breath test.
A woman approached police to say Cross’s car had struck her Nissan at Home and Riverside Drive. The victim then followed the offending vehicle. Cross was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, and driving uninsured.
Drugs, alcohol, DUI • Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Tailgate party!
August 20, 2008, 6:16 PM
Callers alerted police to the presence of intoxicated persons at 37th and East. Responding officers noticed several men huddled at the rear of a red Ford Explorer with an open tailgate. The men were consuming beer from bottles; several open containers of beer could be seen in the rear of the SUV. The Ford’s plates registered to a different vehicle, and a check of its VIN number came back “No Record on File”.
Jose Liberato, 36, of the 7500 block of south Kedvale, Chicago, told the officer the SUV was his, though he was unable to show either a valid driver’s license or a bill of sale. Because of the open alcohol, the Ford was impounded. Liberato was cited for having no valid registration and open alcohol.
Drugs, alcohol, DUI • Suspicious people, objects or events • Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Rock-throwing reported
August 20, 2008, 3:18 PM
A woman told police she was driving near 18th and Oak Park when she saw two people, one of whom threw a rock at her windshield and cracked it. The pair fled northbound on Oak Park. The victim described the offenders as a male black, no age given, in a red shirt, accompanied by a male black, about age 7, wearing long shorts and a yellow shirt with the number “23” on it.
Graffiti / vandalism / criminal damage • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Saturn stereo stolen
August 20, 2008, 8:34 AM
In the 2100 block of Clinton, someone broke into a tan Saturn sedan and stole its stereo.
Electronics stolen from Catholic school
August 20, 2008, 8:50 AM
The principal of St. Odilo school, 23rd and Clarence, told police electronic items valued at more than $4,000 had been stolen: a projector, two digital cameras, a videocamera, two laptops, a DVD player and an I-Mac computer.
Suspicious people, objects or events • Theft • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Blood on floor leads to domestic battery charge for man
August 20, 2008, 2:33 AM
Police responded to calls about suspicious noises in the 1300 block of Clinton. A 33-year old woman told police she and her boyfriend argued because the man was drunk. Police could see the left side of the woman’s face was red and swollen; her lips were swollen, cut and bleeding. When police asked the victim how she was injured, she said she fell the previous day. However, police saw there was blood on the floor of the bedroom in which the pair had argued. The 33-year-old man was charged with domestic battery, a complaint signed by police since the victim refused to sign. The offender has a prior conviction for domestic battery.
Assault, battery • Domestic • Suspicious people, objects or events • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Bad idea: driving on flat tire until tire disappears
August 20, 2008, 12:01 AM
An officer saw a GMC pickup truck driving with its emergency flashers on very, very slowly from the 2600 block of Highland to 27th and Ridgeland before curbing the truck. An 11-year-old child sat in the middle with a male adult passenger. Driver Alonzo Lemas, 37, of the 2000 block of west 21st, Chicago, said he was using the flashers because he had a flat tire. The officer looked at the tire, which was totally torn up; the truck had been traveling on the rim. The driver had no license and was arrested. Lemas was charged with driving on an unsafe tire, driving unlicensed, and driving with a child over age 8 and under 16 not wearing a seat belt.
Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Thursday, August 28, 2008
BERWYN POLICE DEPT COMMENDED FOR HELP TO FEDS IN MOB PIPE BOMB INVESTIGATION
August 28, 2008
The following is the complete, unabridged text of a US Justice Dept. press release dated July 31, 2008:
Two Chicago area men are facing federal charges for allegedly using a pipe bomb to damage a Berwyn video and vending machine business in 2003, federal authorities announced today. The defendants, Mark Polchan and Samuel Volpendesto, were arrested yesterday on charges contained in a three-count indictment that was unsealed this morning, announced Patrick Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Andrew L. Traver, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Alvin Patton, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago.
Polchan, 41, of Justice, and Volpendesto, 84, of Oak Brook, were scheduled to appear 2 PM today before US Magistrate Judge Susan Cox in US District Court in Chicago. Each was charged with one count of conspiracy to use an explosive device to damage property, using an explosive device to damage property, and using a pipe bomb during a crime of violence. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury on Feb. 7, 2008.On Feb. 25, 2003, a pipe bomb was detonated outside a building at 6508 West 16th St., in Berwyn, that housed several businesses, including C & C Coin Operated Amusements, which at the time leased coin-operated vending and video machines. The explosion outside the storefront entrance to C & S caused broken windows and damage to the interior ceiling and wood frame above the doorway to the business. No one was injured in the explosion, which occurred at night.
In July 2007, Kyle C. Knight, 44, of Merrillville, Ind., was arrested on federal charges for allegedly providing explosive materials that were used in the pipe bomb to another individual, knowing that the materials would be used to commit a violent crime. Knight has pleased not guilty and remains in federal custody while the case against him is pending.
ATF, FBI and IRS agents yesterday executed federal search warrants at six area locations: Polchan’s residence and a pawn shop he owns, Goldberg Jeweler’s, in Cicero; a residence in Westchester; and three locations identified as Outlaws Motorcycle Club clubhouses in Chicago, Elgin and Kankakee.
Federal officials said the investigation is continuing, and they commended the assistance of the Berwyn Police Department. The government is being represented by Assistant US Attorneys T. Markus Funk and Amarjeet S. Bhachu.
If convicted, conspiracy to use an explosive device to damage property and using an explosive device to damage property each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and maximum of 20 years, and using a pipe bomb during a crime of violence carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least 30 years and a maximum of life in prison, meaning that both defendants are facing a combined mandatory minimum sentence of 35 years and a maximum of life in prison. In addition, each count carries a maximum fine of $250,000. The Court would determine the appropriate sentence to be imposed under the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Wrong plates, wrong name, wrong liquid
August 19, 2008, 11:48 PM
An officer at Ridgeland and Roosevelt ran the plates of a dark green 1992 Cadillac Deville; the plates came back to a 1983 Pontiac. As the officer was getting the Caddy to pull over, he saw the driver lean over to the passenger side and place an open can of beer on the floor at the passenger’s feet. The driver initially identified himself as “Shannon Williams”, saying he had just bought the car and was using a friend’s license plate to get home. A check of the name “Shannon Williams”, however, returned a person whose appearance did not match that of the driver. The man was told to exit the car and give his correct name. Karl D. Mabins, 21, of Maywood, had a suspended license, so the car was impounded.
The passenger, Jermaine M. Johnson, 23, of Oak Brook, proved to be wanted by both the Lombard police department and the South DuPage County sheriff, so he was arrested.
Mabins was charged with having no valid registration, improper use of registration, failure to transfer title, driving on a suspended license and illegal transportation of open alcohol.
Suspicious people, objects or events • Traffic stops / accidents • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Passed out in an alley
August 19, 2008, 6:42 PM
Police found a man asleep in the alley behind the 7100 block of Pershing; a pint of vodka lay beside him. Officers woke the man, who appeared highly intoxicated. He was David S. Braden, 47, of Wheaton. Braden had an active arrest warrant out of DuPage County, and was processed after his treatment at MacNeal Hospital.
Drugs, alcohol, DUI • Suspicious people, objects or events • Street stop • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
Monday, August 25, 2008
At-large pitbull attacks man walking past
August 19, 2008, 4:54 PM
A 64-year-old man told police he was walking through the 2300 block of Scoville/East alley when a pitbull chased him and bit him, tearing a hole in his pants. The dog then fled through an open gate into the back yard of 2320 Scoville. Owner Stefanie Rangel, 25, was cited for having a dog at large and no city dog tags.
Check written on closed account used to pay for auto repair
August 19, 2008, 4:27 PM
The owners of an auto-repair business at 16th and Ridgeland told police a man paid for repairs to his 1998 Buick with a personal check for more than $600, but the checked bounced because the account on which it drew was closed. The victims were unable to reach the offender, who had provided a Missouri driver’s license and a check with a local phone number. Police found an Illinois driver’s license image in the name of the alleged offender, Elliott L. Henderson, Jr., 24, of the 2700 block of west Warren, Chicago; the victims positively identified the man in the picture as the offender and signed complaints of deceptive practice against him.
Deceptive practice, fraud • (0) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink