Police Reports

The Elmhurst Police Department recently reported the following arrests and citations. Persons charged with domestic battery are not named in order to protect the privacy of victims. Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a conviction, and that subjects are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Juveniles age 17-or-younger are not named.

Assault, battery

Oct.  10

A victim near North and Route 83 told police that while attending a political rally, and standing at the corner with a flag, a suspect driving a vehicle drove past the victim and fired Nerf sponge darts at the victim, striking the victim in the face. The vehicle left the area westbound North Avenue.

Oct. 1

Matias Hernandez-Barra, 47, of St. Charles, was charged with two counts of battery and served with a no-trespass notice in the 100 block of Fellows at around 9:50 a.m.  According to police, a victim stated that Hernandez-Barra would inappropriately touch her and another female employee.

Criminal damage, criminal trespass

Oct. 13

An employee of a business in the 500 block of E. Grand reported a windshield on a company-owned vehicle was shattered while it was parked near the maintenance facility at around 6:42 p.m. The cause of

the damage is undetermined.

Oct. 8

Police said an officer in the 600 block of W. North confirmed that Adam Lesniewski, 70, of Bloomingdale, had been issued a no-trespass notice. Lesniewski was issued a citation for trespassing. 

Domestic battery, domestic incident, disorderly conduct, damage to property, disturbance

Oct. 10

Luke L. Freeman, 33, of Elmhurst, was charged with criminal damage to government supported property, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass to property in the 100 block of Garfield at around 6:18 p.m. Police said officers  responded to the above location for the report of a neighbor who was incessantly ringing the victim’s doorbell, kicking his front door and attempting to rip his mailbox off  the wall.

Oct. 9

A 29-year-old Elmhurst man was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 300 block of S. West at around 7:35 a.m. A victim told police that subsequent to an argument, the suspect struck her in the face with his fist and hand. Officers observed that the right side of the victim’s neck and both sides of her face were red.

DUI, DUI-drugs, possession of alcohol in public

Oct. 14

Jeffrey Mellone, 25, of Elmhurst, was charged with DUI-drugs, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident subsequent to a vehicle crash in the 500 block of S. Spring at around 7:34 p.m.

Oct. 8

Nigel T. Harris, 30, of Chicago, was charged with illegal transportation of alcohol, driving while license suspended and illegally tinted windows subsequent to a traffic stop near Addison and North at around 3:08 p.m. 

Fleeing, eluding

Oct. 14

Aaron Siddall, 21, of Oak Park, was charged with fleeing and eluding, driving while license suspended, speeding 35 mph over the limit, improper lane usage and failure to signal when required near E. Roosevelt and S. York at around 1:29 a.m. Police said a reporting officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the speeding vehicle driven by Siddal near the above location. Siddal refused to stop for officers and fled at a high rate of speed, according to police.

Harassment, threats

Oct. 11

A reporting officer met with the complainant in the 600 block of S. Hillside who stated she observed four juvenile male subjects in front of her home making disturbing comments. The reporting officer met with the juveniles’ parents. An additional investigation is pending.

Identity theft

During the week of Oct. 6-Oct. 14, the Elmhurst Police Department reported 13 incidents of identity theft with the intention of using a victim’s personal information to fraudulently apply for unemployment benefits through the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance

Oct. 14

Kate Lawler, 19, of Burr Ridge, and a juvenile suspect—both passengers in a vehicle—were issued citations for possession of cannabis in a vehicle subsequent to a traffic stop near E. North and Illinois at around 9 p.m.

Oct. 10

Damian G. Kadzielawa, 20, of Norridge, was issued citations for possession of adult use cannabis in a vehicle and a modified exhaust system subsequent to a traffic stop near North and Illinois at around 12:50 a.m.

A complainant in the 300 block of N. Myrtle told police at around 2:34 p.m. that inside of her residence, she found a baggie containing what she believed to be illegal drugs. The contents tested positive for psilocybin mushrooms. The suspect admitted the baggie belonged to him. The suspect was released without charges pending lab results.

Oct. 9

James Youngho Kim, 37, of Bartlett, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, DUI-drugs, four counts of aggravated battery, attempting to disarm a police officer, resisting arrest, driving while license suspended, improper lane usage and no insurance subsequent to a rollover traffic crash near Roosevelt and York at around 1 p.m.  Police said Kim was transported to the hospital where he became combative, struck several security guards, and attempted to disarm a police officer.

Reckless discharge of a firearm

Oct. 11

Police said officers responded to Elmhurst Hospital for the report of a gunshot victim with a graze wound. The victim’s father indicated he accidentally discharged his handgun prior to cleaning. The bullet went through a closet wall and struck the victim. The victim was treated and released from the hospital. An investigation is pending.

Suspicious circumstances

Oct. 15

Police said officers located a stolen vehicle on a tow truck near W. Lake and N. Walnut at around 1:42 a.m. and made contact with the driver who stated he was repossessing the vehicle. Upon further inspection officers observed several bullet holes in the vehicle and blood on both the driver and passenger seat. The Chicago Police Department was notified and requested the vehicle be towed to the Elmhurst police station for processing.

Theft/burglary/attempted theft or burglary/identity theft/fraud/forgery/deceptive practice/obstruction/robbery

Oct.  14

Burglary to a vehicle was reported in the 100 block of E.  Third at around 1:56 p.m. A complainant told police that an unknown suspect(s) removed three power tools from storage bins located on the back of a work truck. A second vehicle was found to be tampered with, but no items were missing.

Oct. 13-Oct. 14.

Identity theft was reported in the 500 block of W. Gladys. A victim told police that she was contacted by an unknown suspect identifying himself as a police officer from Texas. The unknown suspect stated he was looking into an abandoned auto which was tied to her Social Security number. The victim then provided the suspect with her Social Security number before hanging up. The victim contacted the credit bureaus to flag her accounts.

Oct. 13

Theft was reported at a landscaping business in the 200 block of N. Evergreen at around 10:07 a.m.  A reporting officer met with the complainant who stated he observed an unknown suspect exit his company’s unlocked trailer with a hedge trimmer. The unknown suspect placed the hedge trimmer in the back of a blue Toyota Camry, entered the passenger seat, and fled the scene. The suspect was described as a male black in his 20s.

Oct. 11

Geramie Evans, 25, of Wheaton, was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, five counts of aggravated battery to a police officer, aggravated assault to a police officer, criminal damage to government property, resisting arrest and obstruction of identification in the 500 block of W.  Lake at around 4:44 p.m. Police said a reporting officer located a stolen unoccupied vehicle at the above location. A short time later, officers made contact with Evans, who police said was found to have been in possession of the vehicle. According to police, Evans was placed under arrest but resisted officers when they attempted to place him in the squad car. Police said Evans was eventually transported to the police station where he continued to resist arrest and batter police officers.

Residential burglary was reported in the 100 block of W. Diversey at around 5:24 p.m. A victim told police she was moved to a different room in the facility. While the victim was isolation, her purse, Social Security card, birth certificate, various identification cards and several credit cards were taken from her room.

Oct. 9-Oct. 10

Theft was reported in the 500 block of E. Grand. According to police, a victim stated an unknown suspect(s) stole decorative arrangements placed at a grave site.

Oct. 9

Salvadore Martinez, 37, of Arlington Heights, was charged with two counts of retail theft at a store in the 600 block of N. York at around 9:38 a.m. Police said Martinez was found to be in possession of $156 worth of stolen over the counter medication.

Oct. 8

Retail theft was reported at a store in the 600 block of N. York at around 7:31 p.m.  A complainant told police that while reviewing surveillance video, she observed an unknown suspect described as a white male around 25 years old fill a red backpack with $368 worth of over-the-counter medication and exit the store without paying for the merchandise.

Oct. 6

Retail theft was reported in the 600 block of N. York at around 7:31 p.m. A complainant told police that while reviewing surveillance video, she observed a suspect described as a white female fill a tote-style bag with six cans of baby formula and exit the store without paying for the merchandise. The total loss is $215.94.

Sept. 30-Oct. 7

Identity theft was reported at a law office in the 100 block of Adell. A complainant told police that an unknown suspect gained access to a client’s personal information. The suspect impersonated an employee from the victim’s business and fraudulently emailed the client, instructing them to wire money to an unknown bank account sometime between the above dates. There was no dollar loss.

June 26

Attempted identity theft was reported in the 200 block of E. Adelia at around 3:44 p.m. A victim told police that an unknown suspect(s) attempted to open a bank account using her personal information. The unknown suspect was denied and the victim was notified of the fraud attempt.