Driving past the River Forest Mobil at 754 Harlem on July 17, a River Forest police officer saw something odd: someone using a credit card to pay for gas for multiple cars.
After more than $80 worth of gas had been bought, the officer pulled over one of the cars and began to question driver Stanley Jones, 25, of Melrose Park. Jones, however, allegedly didn’t have a driver’s license or proof of insurance on him.
After interviewing Luis A. Torres of Chicago, 43, who was also in the car, and determining their stories didn’t match up, police arrested Jones, Torres and Michael Cooper of Chicago, 21.
All three were charged with theft, and Torres was also charged with unlawful possession of cannabis as well as possession of a controlled substance, 1.56 grams of a substance police suspected to be heroin.
Theft
An Urban Outfitters bag containing a black Apple iPod, a Nokia cell phone, clothing, eyeglasses and DVDs was stolen from a room at Percy Julian Middle School, 416 S. Ridgeland in Oak Park on the morning of July 12. The loss was estimated at $840.
An unattended black drawstring Nike bag, containing a Motorola cell phone and a Canon digital camera, was stolen the evening of July 11 from Stevenson Park, 49 Lake in Oak Park. The loss was estimated at $465.
Lawn care equipment valued at a total of $1,100 was stolen from a flatbed trailer parked on the 1400 block of William in River Forest the afternoon of July 14.
A wallet was stolen from a woman’s purse near Noodles and Company, 7215 Lake in River Forest, on the afternoon of July 15. A driver’s license, a credit card, a debit card, two school IDs and two Metra tickets were taken.
Ceramic flower pots, valued at $75, were stolen from the entrance to a home on the 1300 block of N. Harlem in Oak Park overnight between July 15 and July 16.
Theft of motor vehicle
Andres Mateos of Chicago, 26, was driving his girlfriend of 8 years home after picking her up at Ferrara Pan Candy the evening of July 17. As they drove to Chase Bank at 630 Harlem in River Forest to cash her paycheck, he demanded he take her black Ford Explorer. When she refused, Mateos punched her in the stomach. She then got out of the vehicle and he drove off. She later signed complaints against Mateos for domestic battery and theft.
Retail theft
Terrence K. Wade of Justice, 36, was arrested and charged with felony retail theft for allegedly stealing several DVDs the afternoon of July 12 at Borders, 1144 Lake in Oak Park.
A Chicago juvenile was arrested on the 1000 block of Chicago Avenue in Oak Park the afternoon of July 14 and charged with retail theft from Old Navy, 417 N. Harlem. She was turned over to her parent. Debra D. Shinaul of Palatine, 20, and Tesheema S. Ross of Chicago, 19, were also arrested for retail theft. The three allegedly stole 28 items of clothing valued at more than $400, and then fled in a cab before they were stopped on Chicago Avenue by police and identified.
Burglary
Someone broke into a 2005 Chevy Cobalt parked in a lot on the 700 block of North Blvd. in Oak Park the morning of July 13 and stole a blue “disabled” parking placard.
Someone broke into North Oak Cleaners, 6717 North Ave. , the afternoon of July 13, putting the cash register on the floor and forcing it open, then removing $100 in cash.
Someone broke into a home on the 600 block of N. Oak Park Ave. the afternoon of July 13 and stole a black backpack, a Canon camera, a Dell laptop computer, $600 in cash, jewelry and two Nintendo DS gaming systems. However, all the property but the cash and one Nintendo DS was recovered in a back yard at 600 N. Linden.
Gervorus Hollingsworth of Chicago, 26, was arrested on the 5900 block of Superior in Chicago and charged with burglary to vehicle that occurred at 55 Superior in Oak Park early the morning of July 19.
Robbery
A Chicago juvenile was arrested at 464 N. Austin in Oak Park for robbery the night of July 12.
Two 13- to 14-year-old boys, one about 5-feet, 8-inches, approached a juvenile from Minnesota on the first block of Lake in Oak Park the evening of July 14. While one boy held the victim, the other stole a purple iPod Shuffle and a blue and black Boost Mobile phone. They then fled the scene southbound.
Two 15-year-old boys from Chicago were arrested on the 1500 block of N. Austin early the morning of July 18 and charged with robbery and aggravated battery. They were both turned over to juvenile detention.
Aggravated battery to an officer
Andre McShane of Oak Park, 28, was arrested on the 1100 block of N. Austin the morning of July 17 and charged with aggravated battery to a police officer, after allegedly pushing an officer investigating a 911 hangup.
DUI
Kathy J. Taylor of Chicago, 47, was arrested the night of July 17 on the 500 block of Madison in Oak Park and charged with two counts of DUI, one count of transporting open alcohol, and other traffic violations. She was released after posting bond.
Antonio Rodriguez, 20, was arrested for DUI early the morning of July 18 on the 7300 block of North Avenue in River Forest. Police said he had a blood alcohol level of 0.166, and issued him six citations.
Possession of drug paraphernalia, delinquency of minors
Samir Ali, 18, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and contributing to the delinquency of a minor the afternoon of July 14 on a traffic stop at Randolph and Clinton in Forest Park as the result of a surveillance operation from 500 Monroe in River Forest. Four juveniles were also charged with possession of alcohol.
Criminal trespass to property
James P. Bourke of Oak Park, 52, was arrested for criminal trespass to property at the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. mid-day on July 17. Previously told not to come back, he came back.
Keyvin A. Campbell was arrested the evening of July 18 at Borders, 1144 Lake in Oak Park, and charged with criminal trespass to property. He had been panhandling inside the store and was asked to leave, but then returned.
These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Oak Park and River Forest police departments from July 12 to July 19. Not all incidents that occurred are listed. Anyone named in reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated.
Compiled by Ben Meyerson
