The Elmhurst Police Department recently reported the following arrests and citations. 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.
Battery
April 16
Officers were notified of a fight in progress at a local food store in the 100 block of E. Schiller St. involving two females. The argument began at a restaurant, and one female confronted the other (her friend) at the food store. Due to conflicting stories and neither party wanting to sign complaints, both were released on scene without charges.
Criminal damage to property/motor vehicle/criminal trespass to property/ motor vehicle/damage to property
April 20
A victim in the 600 block of N. County Line told police that an unnamed suspect, her ex-boyfriend, came to her place of employment and refused to leave the property. The suspect left the property prior to police arrival. An officer contacted the suspect via telephone and the suspect was instructed not to return to the property. A no-trespass notice will be issued.
Disorderly conduct
April 15
A victim in the 300 block of E. Crescent told police she looked out her kitchen window and saw a suspicious man at around 11:03 a.m. An officer made contact with the unnamed suspect’s wife who advised her husband has not been taking his medication. She also told police he has been using alcohol, which causes his improper behavior. The victim did not wish to sign complaints.
Domestic battery
April 19
Police said an unknown suspect and victim became involved in an argument in a parking lot in the 1200 block of S. York. Police said the suspect broke the victim’s cell phone and then grabbed the victim by the throat. The suspect was taken into custody and transported to the Police Department. A juvenile detective responded to the Police Department. The suspect was charged with aggravated domestic battery and criminal damage to property, and then transported to Kane County Juvenile Home.
April 15
Domestic battery was reported in the 200 block of S. Monterey at around 11:38 a.m. Subsequent to an argument, the complainant told police the suspect hit him about his body and called started calling him names. Based on the conflicting stories and lack of any injuries, no arrest to be made in this case. Family shelter was notified of the incident.
Domestic incident
April 20
• A victim’s mother told police that the victim never returned home after school and suspects that she was picked up after school by her father. The father claimed that he was abiding by court custody terms. DuPage Family Services responded to the Police Department to assist in the investigation. An investigation is pending.
• Officers responded to the 800 block of Chatham at around 11:30 p.m. for a suspect refusing to leave. Upon arrival, the victim told police that the suspect was intoxicated and had broken a door the victim was holding closed. The victim stated there was no physical altercation and the suspect agreed to leave for the night.
April 16
A victim in the 100 block of E. Lake St. told police that an unnamed suspect was outside her bedroom window wanting to talk to her. The suspect attempted to make contact with the victim previously; however the victim expressed she does not want to have contact with him. Officers searched the area with negative results. The victim would like a no-trespass notice served to the suspect.
April 15
Subsequent to well-being check in Willow Tree Court at around 12 a.m., police said contact was made with a complainant who appeared to be intoxicated. Contact was made with complainant’s ex-wife who arrived home a short time later and related she was out with her brother when she started receiving obscene text messages from the complainant. A cab was called for the complainant, who left the scene a short time later.
DUI/DUI-drugs/illegal consumption/possession of alcohol by a minor/public intoxication/hosting an underage drinking party
April 18
John Zaher, 54, of Blue Island, was arrested near North and Addison at around 12:26 a.m. Subsequent to a traffic stop, police said Zaher was found to be DUI. He was charged with DUI and disobeying a traffic control device.
April 17
• Tony Brito, 34, of Chicago, was arrested near York and North at around 1:46 a.m. Subsequent to a traffic stop, police said Brito was found to be DUI. He was charged with DUI, endangering the life of a child, driving while license revoked and speeding.
• Scott Blasak, 20, of Elmhurst; Breana Dunckel, 20 and Nicholas Drago, 19, both of Naperville, were issued citations in the 600 block of S. York at around 1:13 a.m. Subsequent to a suspicious auto at York Commons after hours, police said officers conducted a foot patrol and located four subjects in the park. Three of the four were found to have consumed alcohol and under 21, according to police. Each suspect was cited for consumption of alcohol by minor and released to a sober driver on scene.
April 16
• Police said officers observed a subject exit a local food store in the 900 block of S. York St. with a case of beer and he appeared to be under 21 years of age. The suspect admitted he was just 17 years old and used a fake ID to purchase alcohol. He was charged with false use of an ID and possession of alcohol by a minor. He was released to his parents.
• Giovanni Magana, 25, of Melrose Park, was arrested near York and Lake at around 1:55 a.m. Subsequent to a traffic stop, police said Magana was found to be DUI. He was charged with DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia and speeding.
• Subsequent to a call for suspicious people at around 8:54 p.m., police said an unspecified number of suspect were found to be drinking and under age. All were cited for consumption of alcohol by minor and released to their parents. An officer will be contacting the School Resource Officer regarding the incident and to have contact made with juvenile who hosted the party.
Harassment
April 14
An officer met with a complainant in the 400 block of N. Oaklawn Ave. who told police he received two voicemail messages threatening arrest if he did not call back and contact a federal agent on his case.
Possession of cannabis/drug paraphernalia/controlled substance/tobacco
April 20
Nichole Graziani, 33, of Elmhurst, was arrested near Willow and Second at around 5:30 p.m. Subsequent to a traffic stop, police said Graziani was found to be in possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia. Graziani was charged with possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia.
April 19
James McElligott, 39, of Downers Grove, was arrested near Crestview and Michigan at around 8:47 p.m. Subsequent to a traffic stop, police said McElligott was found to be in possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia. He was charged with possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, no insurance and disobeying a traffic control device.
April 16
Dylan Horne, 20, of Elmhurst, was arrested in the 100 block of S. Rex at around 7:23 p.m. Subsequent to a drug investigation, police said Horne was found to be in possession of approximately 31 grams of cannabis with intent to deliver and a glass smoking pipe. Horne was charged with possession of cannabis with the intent to deliver, possession of cannabis and of drug paraphernalia.
April 14
Frank Strocchia, 25, of Lombard, was issued a citation near Third and Clinton at around 3:30 p.m. Police said that during a traffic stop, Strocchia admitted to being in possession of a cannabis smoking pipe and having cannabis in the vehicle. He was cited for possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia and disobeying a stop sign.
Suspicious circumstances
April 17
A complainant in the 700 block of N. Parker told police she found a bullet in her backyard which she believes may have come from a nearby sportsman’s club. The bullet appeared to be of a 9MM caliber. It was entered into evidence for destruction.
Theft/burglary/attempted theft or burglary/identity theft/fraud/forgery/deceptive practice/obstruction/robbery
April 20
A victim in the 500 block of Berkeley told police that she advertised a wooden boat on an on-line shopping site. She was contacted and a sale price was negotiated. The potential buyer sent the victim a check to cover the item and shipping. The victim deposited the check, which later bounced.
April 18
• A victim in the 400 block of St. Charles Road told police that while she was at a gas station her debit card was declined at the pump. Victim went to her bank, which presented her with a summary of her statement. The victim noticed a fraudulent online transaction from a women’s apparel store. The victim notified her bank, which advised her to file a police report.
• A complainant told police the victim was texting in the lobby at a local college hall due to poor cell phone reception in her dorm room at around 10:54 a.m. The victim left her phone unattended in the stairway as she went to the kitchenette in the lounge. Upon returning a few minutes later, her phone was gone. The victim stated that there were people hanging around the stairway while she was using the kitchenette, and may be suspects in regard to taking her phone.
April 16-April 17
Residential burglary was reported in Windsor Drive. A victim told police that sometime overnight, an unknown suspect(s) entered her home and stole her vehicle from the attached garage. Also taken was victim’s purse and cell phone. The vehicle was entered into LEADS as stolen.
April 16
• A victim in the 400 block of W. Vallette told police that her stroller had been stolen from her garage. The victim said she had left her garage open for a couple of hours and believes that is when the stroller was taken. The victim also reported that her bike had gone missing two weeks prior.
April 15-April 16
• Commercial burglary was reported at a landscaping company in the 900 block of S. Riverside. The complainant, who owns the landscaping company, told police that an unknown suspect(s) cut the lock handle to the rear gate of the business and broke into his landscaping trailer. Taken were two blowers, two line trimmers and two hedge trimmers.
• Commercial burglary was reported in the 900 block of S. Riverside. A victim told police that between the above dates, an unknown suspect(s) had burglarized his trailer that was parked at the above address. The victim stated he opened the back door of the trailer, noticed some tools missing and observed that the side door lock to the trailer had been broken off. The missing tools included two electric buffers and two wrenches.
April 15
• A victim in the 300 block of E. Crescent told police that while he was attempting to mow his lawn, he had left his mower outside. When he came back, the mower was no longer there. The victim would sign complaints if a suspect was found.
• Retail theft was reported at a store in the 900 block of S. York St. at around 5:41 p.m. While on an extra patrol at the above location, an officer was waived down by a store employee who observed an unknown suspect walk out of the store with a cart full of alcohol and other items without paying. The suspect was described as a male black approximately 30-35 years of age wearing a dark blue sweatshirt, blue jeans, and carrying an orange backpack. The suspect was seen leaving the cart in the parking lot and crossing York Street.
• Theft was reported in the 100 block of N. Addison at around 6 p.m. A complainant told police that an unknown suspect removed his American flag that was attached to the front of his residence.
April 14
• Jessica Good, 20, of Berwyn, was arrested at a local store in the 300 block of S. Route 83 at around 7:55 p.m., and Erik Witteck, 21, of Bensenville, received a citation. Subsequent to a suspicious vehicle in store parking lot, police said officers followed the vehicle to another store in North Riverside where Good allegedly returned merchandise that was found to be reportedly stolen from the store in Elmhurst. Good was also found to be in possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia, according to police. Police said Witteck, the driver of the vehicle, was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia, cited for the same and released at the scene. Good was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and retail theft.
• A victim in the 500 block of N. Walnut told police she noticed fraudulent activity in her checking account. The victim spoke to her bank’s branch manager who advised there were several unauthorized automatic withdrawals from her account. The victim did not authorize these withdrawals.
• According to police, a victim in the 600 block of S. Mitchell Ave. was advised when he tried to file his taxes via Turbo Tax that someone had already filed a return in his name.
• A victim at a fitness center in the 600 block of W. North Ave. told police while at the fitness center, an unknown suspect(s) stole his iPhone. Victim could not remember whether he had put his phone into a locker or kept it in his pocket as he worked out. The victim’s phone was entered into LEADS as stolen.
Feb. 25
An officer responded to the police station for an identity theft report. A complainant told police he received a letter from the IRS on the above date, stating his tax return form was denied. The complainant had not filed his tax return yet and person(s) unknown attempted to file a fraudulent tax return using the victim’s Social Security number.
Visitation interference
April 14
An officer was flagged down by a victim near York and Arthur regarding a child custody dispute that had just taken place in the downtown area. The victim’s ex-husband has custody of their children but cut her visit short and reportedly took the boys without her permission.
Warrant service
April 16
Scott Grandsard, 58, of Lombard, was arrested in the 700 block of N. Walnut at around 8:15 a.m. Police said subsequent to the cleaning crew’s accidental activation of a burglar alarm, Grandsard was found to be wanted out of DuPage County.
