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
March 17
A victim at Elmhurst Hospital told police at around 3:50 p.m. that she and a supervisor had an argument over wearing a mask at work. During the argument, the suspect reportedly grabbed her by the arms. The victim wanted the matter documented and did not wish to pursue complaints.
March 13
Joseph M. Cascella, 24, of Elmhurst, was charged with aggravated battery to a police officer and violation of bail bond in the 600 block of Crockett at around 11:40 p.m. Police said Cascella was located within the residence and was taken into custody. As he was being escorted to the squad car, he allegedly spat in an officer’s face.
Criminal trespass, criminal damage
March 15-March 16
A victim in the 400 block of Emery Lane told police that an unknown suspect(s) damaged his garage doors sometime between the above dates.
Domestic battery, domestic incident, disorderly conduct, disturbance
March 15
A 47-year-old Elmhurst woman was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 400 block of W. Fremont at around 12:04 p.m. A victim reported that the suspect scratched his face. The reporting officer met with the victim and noticed a laceration on the victim’s face, which was bleeding.
March 13
Police said an officer responded to Berens Park at around 1:43 p.m. for the report of criminal damage to property. The complainants stated they observed a silver Jeep Wrangler driving in the grass just south of the west parking lot and advised the officer of the vehicle’s location. The unnamed suspect was located, and cited for disorderly conduct/damage to property.
DUI, DUI-drugs, illegal transportation of alcohol, open alcohol in public, consumption of alcohol by a minor, public intoxication
March 19
Mayra Rodriguez, 37, of Cicero, was charged with DUI, illegal transportation of alcohol and no valid driver’s license in the 200 block of N. West at around 2:01 a.m.
March 15
Police said that subsequent to a traffic stop near York and Diversey at around 2:08 a.m., Juvenile 1 was found to be without a valid driver’s license and admitted to drinking two beers. Juvenile 2 was cited for consumption of alcohol by a minor and released to a guardian. Juvenile 1 was charged with illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor, operating a vehicle with an unlawful blood-alcohol content, and no valid driver’s license and was released on bond to a guardian.
March 14
Jasemine Payton, 29, of Chicago, was charged with DUI, improper lane usage, no valid driver’s license and failure to signal subsequent to a traffic stop near Huntington and Poplar at around 10:12 p.m.
March 12
Kristen Eder, 39, of Oak Brook, was charged with DUI, endangering the life of a child and failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk near Addison and Second at around 6:17 p.m.
Brandon L. Morgan, 34, of Glen Ellyn, was charged with DUI-drugs, possession of a hypodermic syringe, obstructing identification and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident near Roosevelt and Butterfield at around 10:267 a.m. Police said Morgan also had three valid warrants from the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office.
Possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia
March 18
According to police, an Elmhurst College officer related that she responded to the report of an odor of cannabis and observed several bottles of alcohol within a dorm room. Jasmin Rivera, 19, of Round Lake Beach, admitted to purchasing the cannabis and relinquished cannabis cigarillos and two small baggies of cannabis, according to police. Police said Anastasia Koufa, 19, of Elmhurst, admitted the alcohol belonged to her. Police said Koufa and Rivera denied drinking any alcohol and did not have the odor of alcohol on their breath, but Leila H. Michalski, 18, of New Lenox, showed signs of alcohol consumption and had the odor of alcohol on her breath. Rivera was issued a citation for possession of cannabis, Koufa was cited for possession of alcohol by a minor and Michalski was cited for consumption of alcohol by a minor.
March 17
Nicholas Serrano, 28, of Chicago, was charged with unlawful possession of adult use cannabis in a vehicle, driving while license suspended, expired registration and no insurance subsequent to a traffic stop near Lake and York at around 1:04 p.m.
Suspicious circumstances
March 17
According to police, a reporting officer met with a complainant at around 4:56 a.m. who stated her son exposed himself to an unknown suspect via webcam. The unknown suspect recorded the video chat and then demanded he wire him money or he would share the video on social media.
March 4
A reporting officer responded to a car dealership in the 700 block of Grand at around 1:19 a.m. for a report of a suspicious vehicle. The complainant stated he was informed of a suspicious vehicle parked behind their lot that may have been involved in a previous motor vehicle parts theft. The vehicle is described as a 2002 gray Ford Explorer. An investigation is pending.
Theft/burglary/attempted theft or burglary/identity theft/fraud/forgery/deceptive practice/obstruction/robbery
March 18
Forgery was reported at a restaurant in the 300 block of S. Route 83 at around 1:53 p.m. A victim told police that two suspects entered the business and ordered food. Each paid for their respective orders using a $20 bill. It was determined that the first suspect—described as a black male, between 25 and 30 years old, five feet seven with an average build, short black hair and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, a black T-shirt, black pants, black boots and black latex gloves—paid for his order with a counterfeit $20 bill. Both suspects left the store northbound on foot. The area was checked with no results. The second suspect was described as a black male, between 25 and 30 years old, five foot 10 with an average build, short black hair, a black puffy jacket with a white logo on the left chest quadrant, black pants and tan boots.
March 17
Attempted forgery was reported at a food store in the 200 block of S. Route 83 at around 4:29 p.m. A complainant told police that an unknown suspect attempted to purchase several products using a counterfeit $100 bill. The cashier confronted the suspect who then left the store in an unknown direction. The suspect is described as a black male, between 30 and 35 years old, around five feet four, 130-135 pounds, with a tattoo on the left side of his neck, and was wearing a surgical mask.
March 16
Joseph A. Whealan, 26, of Villa Park, was charged with felony retail theft in the 100 block of W. First at around 10:14 a.m. Police said a reporting officer responded to the above location for a report of a man sleeping on the floor of the train station. Upon further investigation, police said it was discovered that Whealan had stolen a bottle of vodka from a food store.
March 15
Identity theft was reported in the 900 block of S. Mitchell at around 2:55 p.m. A victim told police that an unknown suspect ordered three Apple iPads and had them delivered to her residence using her personal information. The victim contacted Verizon and they advised they would remove the iPads from the account. The iPads were placed into evidence to be returned to Verizon.
March 14
Police said that subsequent to the report of a retail theft at a store in the 300 block of S. Route 83 at around 1:03 p.m., a suspect had taken merchandise and left the store without paying. The reporting officer met with loss prevention who
stated they did not wish to sign complaints. The suspect was released on scene and advised she was not allowed back on the property.
Theft was reported at a store in the 100 block of E. Schiller at around 5:51 p.m. A reporting officer met with the complainant who stated she was missing her purse while shopping at the store. The reporting officer reviewed security footage which shows the victim enter with the purse in her cart. The reporting officer and store management tried to search the store for the purse but came up with no results. She believes an unknown suspect(s) may have taken it while she was not looking.
March 13
Fraud was reported in the 400 block of W. Commonwealth at around 12:26 p.m. A victim told police that she posted a dining room set for sale on Craigslist and received emails from the suspect(s) stating a cashier’s check will be sent for payment. The victim received the cashier’s check and brought it to her bank where it was determined to be fraudulent. The reporting officer attempted to contact the suspect with no results. The reporting officer collected the fraudulent check and placed it into evidence.
Theft was reported at the Elmhurst YMCA at around 8:33 p.m. The victims told police that they left their belongings in the gym while they played basketball. After the game ended, one victim’s cell phone was missing from his backpack and another victim’s wallet was missing from his jacket pocket. The cell phone pinged to an area in Arlington Heights and the wallet was located in the YMCA’s women’s restroom. An investigation is pending.
Identity theft was reported in the 500 block of N. Emory at around 2:01 p.m. A victim told police that an unknown suspect(s) deposited a check into his bank account. The unknown suspect(s) immediately withdrew cash from the account. Another attempt was made to deposit a check but was unsuccessful due to a fraud alert placed on the account. The victim notified the bank and the checking account was closed.
March 12
Theft was reported at Elmhurst College at around 4:15 p.m. A victim told police that an unknown suspect(s) removed his Apple MacBook Pro from his apartment. The victim is unsure if the apartment door was locked overnight. The laptop was entered into LEADS as stolen.
Burglary to a vehicle was reported at a fitness center in the 600 block of N. York at around 7:17 p.m. A victim told police that while at the center, an unknown suspect(s) shattered the driver’s side window of her blue Honda CRV and removed her gray purse.
March 4
Helen Vitogiannis, 49, of Elmhurst, was charged with theft of mislaid property at a swim school in the 600 block of N. Michigan at around 2:54 p.m. A reporting officer met with the complainant who stated her daughter’s cellphone was stolen at the above location, according to police. Police said a reporting officer reviewed video surveillance at the business and obtained Vitogiannis’ information. The reporting officer made contact with Vitogiannis and recovered the cellphone, according to police.
Feb. 26
Identity theft was reported in the 100 block of Linden at around 2:18 p.m. A victim told police that an unknown suspect gained access to her bank account and acquired a cashier’s check from her account. The transaction occurred in Miami. The reporting officer provided the victim with information on how to protect herself against identity theft.
Warrant arrest
March 14
Police said officers responded to the 500 block of W. Lake at around 4:21 p.m. for the report of two missing juveniles in the area. Officers located the juveniles who immediately fled the scene on foot. Both juveniles were eventually apprehended and transported to Elmhurst Hospital by medics. Upon further investigation, it was learned that Juvenile 1 had an active warrant out of Wheaton. Wheaton officers responded to the hospital and transported Juvenile 1 to the Kane County Youth Detention Center. Juvenile 2 was also found to have a valid juvenile warrant out of Kendall County Sheriff’s Office, and she was also transported to the Kane County Youth Detention Center.
