Blotter: Raccoons, 2 Incidents at the Hospital and More

Burglary Attempt Suspected

A resident of the 300 block of Edgewood Lane reported Feb. 14 finding footprints in the snow on the driveway and a ripped window screen in a possible burglary attempt, according to La Grange police.

Window broken

A window some 11 feet above ground was broken Feb. 15 at a home on the 200 block of south Peck Avenue  and La Grange police suspect the cause may be weather-related.

2 Raccoons Seen

An injured raccoon near Kensington and Maple avenues was captured and brought Feb. 16 to the Bemis Woods Forest Preserve on Ogden Avenue in Western Springs, according to La Grange police.

A raccoon was reported hanging out at Goodman Park, at about 12:37 p.m. Feb. 15. A La Grange police officer found the animal lying in a yard on the 400 block of south Park. Cook County animal control was notified but replied it would not come out unless the animal was in unincorporated La Grange.   

Two Incidents at Hospital

A 31-year-old woman carrying a backpack and accompanied by a 6-year-old boy was reported possibly in a bathroom and doing drugs at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital, 5101 S. Willow Springs Road, at about 2:03 a.m. Feb. 15. The woman was expected to leave the emergency room shortly.

A 41-year-old man with a long pony tail who was yelling and causing a disturbance at about 4:38 a.m. Feb. 15  in a waiting room of the emergency room of Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital was given a ride home to Hodgkins.   

Man Walking on Tracks

A 21-year-old Brookfield man who was walking on the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad tracks at 47th Street and East Avenue at about 12:10 a.m. Feb. 16 was advised by La Grange police to stay off private property. He said he would find a new way to walk home.

Bike Found

A green Giant, 26-inch men’s bicycle found in an alley behind a business on the 800 block of Arlington was turned in to La Grange police Feb. 14 after being abandoned since Feb. 11.

Gas Smell Reported

The La Grange Fire Department provided mutual aid for a report of a smell of natural gas in a house on the 800 block of Kemman Avenue in La Grange Park at about 7:46 p.m. Feb. 13.  

Yard Decoration Broken

A streamer on bushes of the yard of a home on the 0-100 block of north Drexel Avenue was reported destroyed at about 1:13 p.m. Feb. 13. Its value was $10.

Car Lighting Causes 2 Stops

A 34-year-old Chicago man received three traffic tickets at about 5:25 a.m. Feb. 13 after La Grange Park police stopped his red 1995 Mercury Cougar with only one headlight lit as he was driving north on Kemman Avenue at 29th Street. Thayer I. Burton was ticketed for improper lighting, no proof of insurance and improper use of registration. The license plate was registered to a green 1975 Buick. Police said Burton told them the Buick did not start, so he took off the license plate and put it on the Cougar owned by his sister’s boyfriend.

A 28-year-old Bellwood man, Ronnie L. Parker, was ticketed at about 4:52 a.m. Feb. 8 for failure to dim his lights and driving while his license is suspended after a La Grange Park police officer said he was driving westbound on 31st Street at Forest Road with the bright lights activated on his gold 2000 Buick Regal. The officer flashed squad car lights on the car but said Parker did not dim the brights. Parker told police he used the brights because one headlight was not working.

‘Speeder’ Ticketed

La Grange Park police ticketed an 18-year-old Melrose Park man after an officer said the silver 1994 Nissan Sentra was going 49 mph in a 30-mph zone on the 300 block of north La Grange Road at about 1:50 p.m. Feb. 9.  Josue A. Fernandez was ticketed for speeding and no valid driver’s license.

Driver gets 3 Tickets

Nicholas S. Lopez, 19, of Chicago was ticketed for no front plates, suspended registration and driving while his license is suspended after La Grange Park police stopped his black 1997 Acura on the 1200 block of Maple Avenue at about 5:19 p.m. Feb. 9.

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.