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
Aug. 29
A victim at Elmhurst Hospital told police at around 5:20 a.m. that while trying to put a blanket on a suspect, she spit in his face and it hit him in the eye. A reporting officer will follow up with aggravated battery charges pending discharge from the hospital.
Aug. 28
A victim in the 500 block of W. Comstock Ave. told police at around 12:36 a.m. that a suspect shoved him and made threats against him. The suspect reportedly became irate after he discovered the victim removed a bicycle from his garage without permission. Due to conflicting statements, no arrests were made; however, the victim was served with a no-trespass notice.
Criminal damage or defacement to property/criminal damage to a vehicle
Aug. 26-Aug. 28
A complainant in the 200 block of W. First St. told police at around 8:33 a.m. that an unknown suspect(s) damaged a garage door to an attached storage building on the north side of the property. The garage door was pushed in, causing approximately $500 in damage.
Aug. 26-Aug. 27
• A complainant in the 200 block of Wilson Street told police at around 9:29 a.m. that he discovered two broken rocks in the middle of his driveway and two dents in his garage door. The complainant’s wife stated that she woke up around midnight to a loud noise and observed four male white teenagers walking northbound on Kearsage Avenue. Upon further investigation, officers found damage to a sign and a bird bath at two other locations in the general vicinity.
• A victim in the 600 block of Mary Court told police that he parked his vehicle in his driveway overnight. When the victim awoke the following morning, he discovered his windshield had been shattered along with scratches on the driver’s side door and dents on the hood of his vehicle. Estimated cost to repair the damage is approximately $1,000.
Domestic incident, domestic battery
Aug. 25
Police said an argument at around 11:57 a.m. in the 700 block of S. Spring Road between the victim and a suspect turned physical when the suspect slapped the victim on the left side of her face The victim was found to be intoxicated, according to police, and was subsequently transported to Elmhurst Hospital. Due to conflicting stories and no signs of physical injury, no arrests were made.
DUI, DUI-drugs, illegal consumption or possession of alcohol by a minor, illegal transportation of open alcohol, illegal possession of open alcohol, possession of a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance
Aug. 30
Police said that subsequent to a traffic stop near Lake and West at around 1:14 a.m., a search of the vehicle yielded an open liquor bottle which Roderick Morrow, 47, of Addison, a passenger in the vehicle, admitted to possessing. Morrow was cited for illegal transportation of alcohol.
Aug. 27
Juana Hernandez-Balle, 27, of Berwyn, was charged with DUI and improper lane usage subsequent to a traffic stop near Route 83 and St. Charles at around 2:11 a.m.
Aug. 25
• Jim Maldonado, 20, of West Chicago, was charged with DUI, illegal transportation of alcohol and improper lane usage subsequent to a traffic stop near North and West at around 1:04 a.m. Police said open alcohol, cannabis and a suspected controlled substance pill were located inside the vehicle. According to police, Maldonado also was found to have an active warrant out of DuPage County. Francisco Marin, 20, of Chicago, was issued citations for possession of alcohol by a minor and possession of cannabis. A juvenile also was charged with possession of cannabis, possession of alcohol by a minor, consumption of alcohol by a minor and violation of curfew.
• Police said that while an officer was on patrol in the 900 block of S. York at around 7:42 p.m., the officer observed an unnamed suspect exit a liquor store carrying a box of alcohol. Upon speaking to the suspect, it was learned that he was under the age of 21 and had purchased alcohol using his brother’s passport, according to police. The suspect was cited for possession of alcohol by a minor and false use of identification.
Harassment, threats
Aug. 16-Aug. 30
A complainant in the 500 block of W. Lake St. told police that she is the new owner of a car dealership in the area. According to police, the suspect—the former owner of the dealership—has contacted her numerous times between the above dates in an attempt to start a partnership with her at the dealership. The complainant told the suspect that she is not interested in a partnership; the suspect was advised to have no further contact with the complainant.
Aug. 27
Roberto J. Mercado-Jimenez, 48, of Chicago, was charged with harassment through electronic communication at around 2:37 p.m. According to police, the suspect was constantly attempting to contact a victim via her Facebook Messenger and phone after being asked to stop. Police said that despite a reporting officer speaking with the suspect and advising him to have no further contact with the victim, the victim later reported that the suspect was still attempting to contact her.
Possession of cannabis, drug paraphernalia, controlled substance
Aug. 30
• Joseph Nichols, 32, of Villa Park, was charged with possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license suspended and no insurance subsequent to a traffic stop near St. Charles and Villa at around 12:59 a.m.
• Police said that subsequent to a traffic stop near York and Van Buren at around 8:10 p.m., Jonathan Weglarz, 21, and Jane Rohrer, 25, both of Downers Grove, were found to be in possession of heroin and needles. Weglarz was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and disobeying a stop sign. Rohrer was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Aug. 28
• Thomas E. Muller, 54, of South Elgin, was cited for possession of cannabis in the 200 block of S. Route 83 at around 7:44 a.m. Police said officers responded to a report of Muller slumped behind the wheel. Medics released Muller at the scene, but police said upon further investigation, officers located four grams of cannabis inside his vehicle.
• Glenn Wallace, 26, of Bensenville, was charged with felony possession of cannabis and tinted windows subsequent to a traffic stop near York and Diversey at around 12:11 a.m. Police said Wallace was found to be in possession of 249 grams of cannabis.
Aug. 27
• Seth Combs, 22, of Elmhurst was cited for unlawful possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia subsequent to a traffic stop near North and York at around 11:51 p.m. Police said Combs was found to be in possession of cannabis and a cannabis smoking pipe.
• Mark Jacobo, 21, of Carol Stream, was cited for possession of cannabis and driving with only one headlight, while Daniel Cirone, 21, of Elmhurst, was cited for possession of cannabis subsequent to a traffic stop near York and Palmer at around 3:42 a.m.
Aug. 26
Christon Lenox, 19, of Willowbrook, was issued a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia and issued a warning for disobeying a traffic control device subsequent to a traffic stop near Route 83 and Elmhurst Crossing at around 2:37 a.m. Police said Lenox was found to be in possession of a cannabis grinder and a digital scale with cannabis residue.
Aug. 25
Michael Triphahn, 25, of Bartlett, was issued citations for possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to signal subsequent to a traffic stop near York and I-290 at around 11:12 p.m.
Aug. 24
Jessica Ciepierski, 22, of Chicago, was issued citations for possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia subsequent to a traffic stop near York and Belden at around 12:26 a.m.
Suspicious circumstances
Aug. 28
• A complainant on the northbound Route 83 ramp from westbound Roosevelt told police at around 8:55 a.m. that while merging onto the northbound ramp, she didn’t see any vehicle next to her, continued merging, and then heard a vehicle honking at her. The suspect passed her in his vehicle, screamed out the window and held up what appeared to be a handgun. Officers later located the vehicle, but did not locate a handgun. The victim declined to sign complaints.
• A victim near North and Third told police at around 4:50 p.m. that a gray Dodge Challenger had followed him from his car dealership in East Dundee to the area of North and Third. The victim pulled off across from a gas station and the vehicle continued southbound on York Road. The driver appeared to be an Hispanic male, according to police.
Aug. 24
A complainant at a hotel in the 900 block of S. Riverside told police at around 5:28 p.m. that while walking her dog, they discovered a blanket covered in dirt. Inside the blanket was a bone approximately 9 inches in length. No other bones were located in the area. The bone was brought into the DuPage County Coroner’s office to determine its origin. After examination, the bone was found not to be human.
Theft/burglary/attempted theft or burglary/identity theft/fraud/forgery/deceptive practice/obstruction/robbery
Aug. 29
An employee at a grocery store in the 600 block of N. York told police at around 2:55 p.m. that they observed a suspect described as a white male between 50 and 55 years old, around 6-foot, 155 pounds with blond hair, wearing a black baseball cap, black eyeglasses, a black T-shirt and black cargo shorts push a shopping cart containing merchandise valued at $403.71 out the front door without paying. The suspect reportedly entered a black coupe and left the area prior to an officer’s arrival.
Aug. 28
A victim in the 100 block of W. North Ave. told police at around 7:49 p.m. that he inadvertently left his wallet on the counter in the pharmacy area of a local store. Approximately 20 minutes later after doing so, he was notified by Capital One that his credit card had been used at three locations in the area.
Aug. 25
• Theft was reported at a high school in the 300 block of W. St. Charles at around 4:14 p.m. A complainant told police that he had forgotten his cell phone in the washroom. When he returned moments later, he discovered the phone was no longer there.
• Identity theft was reported in the 700 block of Washington at around 12:40 p.m. A victim told police that an unknown suspect(s) used her debit card information to make two unauthorized withdrawals from an ATM in California. The withdrawals were for $500 and $480, respectively. The victim notified her bank of the fraudulent activity and her debit card was cancelled.
• Theft was reported in the 600 block of W. North Ave. at around 11:29 p.m. A victim came to the police department to report a lost wallet. The victim stated that he placed his wallet in a gym bag, and placed the bag in an unsecured locker at a fitness center. The victim returned, collected his belongings and drove to his residence. When the victim arrived, he noticed his wallet was no longer in the bag. The wallet contained and Illinois state driver’s license, a debit card, a Social Security card and a permanent resident card.
Aug. 24
David Smith, 47, of Lombard, was charged with retail theft at a store in the 300 block of S. Route 83 at around 9:05 p.m. Police said Smith walked out of the store with a Bluetooth speaker valued at $118.79. According to police, Smith left the scene prior to an officer’s arrival, but was later located and placed into custody.
Aug. 22-Aug. 23
A victim in the 300 block of N. York told police at around 8:24 a.m. that an unknown suspect removed a therapeutic adult tricycle from the rear bicycle rack between the above dates.
Aug. 8-Aug. 28
A victim in the 900 block of S. Cedar told police that his Social Security number had been compromised and used in an attempt to open a new Comcast account between the above dates. He has not lost money nor has he been billed anything by Comcast.
Aug. 2-Aug. 9
A victim in the 100 block of S. Linden told police that between the above dates, she had a painting company in her home doing work. She left her wallet containing cash on the kitchen counter while the workers were in her home. She noticed the cash was missing and there was paint on the wallet’s edges. She spoke to the painters’ supervisor, and he talked to his workers, who both denied taking the money. To avoid criminal charges, the supervisor offered to reimburse the victim for the cash; she was satisfied with this resolution.
Warrant arrest
Aug. 27
Police said Michael Szczypta, 27, of Little Elm, Texas, came into the police department to turn himself in on an active warrant out of the DuPage County Sheriff’s office.
