Blotter: Man 'Lies' About Accident, Mail Carrier Reports Bones and More

Man ‘Lies’ About Accident

A 30-year-old La Grange Park man, Vincent D. Papaccio, was arrested for obstructing a peace officer after La Grange Park police said he tried to cover up that a friend caused a hit-and-run accident.

Police said Papaccio, of 1022 Homestead Ave., told an officer investigating the accident at an unidentified location at about 3:04 a.m. Jan. 15, that he had been drinking alcohol with a friend at a Countryside restaurant, had got into an argument with him and walked to the White Castle to call for a taxi. He said he was waiting for the taxi when a man offered to drive him home.

Papaccio told police the man pulled into his driveway and he exited and went into his house. He said he heard a crash, went outside but the man and his car were gone. The officer then told Papaccio that his story did not make sense.

A witness told police that a friend of Papaccio had hit the car and the La Grange Park resident said they will take care of insurance in the morning.

When police confronted Papaccio that his friend had hit the car, they said he replied, “I don’t rat on my friends and I would lie again.” After he had been arrested, police said he told them he lied because he did not want to get his friend in trouble and his friend had drove him home and struck the vehicle.

Wallet Taken from Purse

A wallet was taken at about 12:30 p.m. Jan. 14 out of a purse that was hanging on the back of a chair at Panera, 439 N. La Grange Rd., while its owner was sitting in that chair, according to La Grange Park police.

Car Window Broken

The rear window of a vehicle parked in the driveway of a home on the 1000 block of Barnsdale Road was shattered between 4:30 and 11:30 a.m. Jan. 14, according to La Grange Park police.

Stolen Guns Recovered

Chicago police reported on Jan. 18 they had recovered three Winchester .30 caliber rifles that had been taken in a La Grange burglary. No more information was available Jan. 19 from La Grange police about the date and location of the burglary.

Cigarettes Stolen

A man walked away at about 2:50 p.m. Jan. 18 with a box of Newport 100 cigarettes worth $8.30 that a  woman had paid for at the La Grange News Stand, 4 W. Burlington Ave., but had left behind. La Grange police have a clue to the man’s identity.

Engine Block Obstructs Street

A towing company, at about 6:05 p.m. Jan. 18, removed an engine block that had been obstructing the street at Cossitt and Brainard avenues.

Mail Carrier Spots Bones

A mail carrier notified La Grange police at about 3:58 p.m. Jan. 17 after noticing bones that did not appear to be from an animal and feces outside a home on the 800 block of south Waiola Avenue.  A police officer found the bones were not human and said there was nothing suspicious.

Neighbor Hears Screams

A resident of the 100 block of Sawyer Avenue called La Grange police at about 8:14 p.m. Jan. 17  after hearing someone screaming for help and seeing lights flickering on and off at another house on that block. Police said kids were playing, running through the house and there was no problem there.

Doorbell Ringer “Suspicious”

A resident of the 200 block of south Spring Avenue called La Grange police at about 8:19 p.m. Jan. 17 after seeing a “larger” “ man wearing a hoodie ring the doorbell and then drive away.

Gas Spills

The La Grange Fire Department responded at about 10:20 a.m. Jan. 17 to a gas spill on the 800 block of Arlington.

Police Vehicle Hit

A Dodge Charger driven by a La Grange police officer was hit at about 10:39 a.m. Jan, 17 on Van Buren Street, one block west of First Avenue in Maywood.

Purse Stolen Out of Car

A purse belonging to a Brookfield woman was stolen out of her car in front of First Baptist Church, 21 N. Catherine Ave., police learned at about 1:23 p.m. Jan. 17.

Bank Card Turned in

A PNC Bank check card that had been found in the lobby of the La Grange Post Office, 21 Hillgrove Av. Was turned in to the La Grange police station at about 4:04 p.m. Jan. 16.

Fireworks Thrown

A resident of the 0-100 block of Dover Ave., reported at about 7:59 p.m. Jan. 16 that a white sport-utility vehicle or black car full of teens pulled up in front of the house and they threw fireworks on the porch. A black vehicle came by later and occupants lit fireworks in the middle of the street, police were told.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity in our towns, using information provided by official agencies. Persons charged with a crime, or issued a citation for violation of a local ordinance, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you or a family member are charged with a crime or cited for a violation, and the charge or citation is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor of this Patch site, matthew@patch.com, and we will do follow-up reporting on the case.