Crime & Safety

'Jesus St. Steven' Tells Off Cops; Squirrel in Apartment: OMG PD

A roundup of the more bizarre items in area police blotters.

FOREST PARK

'Jesus St. Steven' Tells Cops to Eff Off

Harold S. Sledge, 53, of Chicago, was charged with solicitation after police spoke to him about sleeping on the sidewalk near the CTA stop at 1 S. Harlem Ave. Sledge reportedly told officers "f*** you," and gave them multiple fake names, including "Doreen Jesus," "Sledge Stevens" and "Jesus St. Steven." He was given a June 4 court date.

Throwing Beer Cans

Joseph J. Avila, 23, of Chicago, was cited under a local ordinance for public intoxication after police said he was throwing beer in the street. Police said Avila told them he left a bar with his drink and then threw it in the air because "he did not want to be walking around with beer."

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Walmart Employee Steals from Store in Forest Park

A Forest Park Walmart employee was charged with theft April 29 following an investigation that accuses him of voiding transactions at taking cash from customers.

David Williams, 48, of Chicago, was charged after police were called to Walmart, 1300 Des Plaines Ave. in Forest Park. Store security said Williams, a Walmart employee, had been voiding transactions but still taking cash from customers for the voided merchandise. 

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The investigation started about a month and a half ago after a customer complained about Williams. The customer refused Williams' offer to void the transaction and take cash for a pair of shoes. 

After reviewing video surveillance of Williams working the cash register, security determined he took about $992 over the length of the investigation. 

He was terminated by Walmart and arrested by police. 

LA GRANGE

Lawn Chair Vandals

A lawn chair in the 0-99 block of South 6thAvenue is being vandalized every weekend, a woman told La Grange police around 5:45 p.m. Most recently, someone spray-painted it. She asked police for an extra watch on her home.

Squirrel in Apartment

A woman reported a squirrel in her apartment in the 500 block of Banyon Lane around 3:32 p.m., police said. The officer was unable to locate the squirrel and told the woman to call her building’s maintenance person.

Man Throws Rocks at AT&T

A 24-year-old man threw rocks at the AT&T window, 34 N. La Grange Road, around 6:49 p.m., setting off the store’s alarm, police said. The man, along with a group of teenage friends who were there, admitted to throwing the rocks and said that they accidentally hit the window, police said. They were strongly warned and sent on their way.

Homeless People Sleeping in Office

A building contractor found two homeless people sleeping in the office adjacent to Massage Envy, 1 N. La Grange Road, around 1:19 a.m., police said. Officers sent one of the people on his way; the other had already reportedly left for the BEDS shelter.

OAK PARK

Pet Adoption Center Burglarized

Someone stole $113 from a cash register at the 2nd Chance Animal Care League pet adoption center at 808 Harrison St. in Oak Park. The person entered an unlocked door and smashed the register on the ground. 

Sewer Pipe Stolen

Two men were seen taking a 5-foot metal sewer pipe from Cerniglia Construction in Melrose Park while it was lying in the street in the 100 block of S. Taylor. The estimated loss is $100. 

Booze Stolen

Latoria Hill, 29, of the 1500 block of W. Spencer Ave. in Berkley was arrested and charged with felony retail theft after she stole $41 in wine and tequila from the Jewel Foods on Lake St. Felony charges were approved because Hill had a prior retail theft conviction in 2012.

$1.9K in Purses Stolen

At about 8 p.m. police received a call from the DSW Shoes on Lake St. that a man and woman had stolen 8 Michael Kors purses valued at $1,900. They were last seen getting into a black Ford Explorer. Police are investigating the theft and they believe the couple is part of a region-wide retail theft ring targeting Cook County and surrounding areas.

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Police Blotter information is provided by local law enforcement agencies. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.


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