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 reporting officer responded to Edward-Elmhurst Hospital at 10:18 a.m. to speak to a victim, who related she had been shot while lying in the backseat of her car. A friend of the victim told police the incident happened in a suburb just west of Chicago but refused to give any additional information. An investigation is pending.
Police said while officers were investigating an aggravated battery at Edward-Elmhurst Hospital, individuals associated with the victim of the aggravated battery began fighting. One of the suspects allegedly struck the victim repeatedly before fleeing the scene. The other suspect reportedly grabbed the victim. The victim refused to provide information for the first suspect. Upon the hospital’s request, both suspects were served with a no-trespass notice.
March 16
Darnell J. Higgins, 24, of Villa Park, was charged with four counts of battery in the 600 block of W. St. Charles at 12:40 a.m. Police said that subsequent to a report of a disturbance at the above location, the reporting officer learned the suspect had battered four victims.
March 14
Zekija Babic, 39, of Wheaton, was issued a citation for battery at Edward-Elmhurst Hospital at 3:57 p.m. Police said a victim related that while attempting to treat the suspect, Babic grabbed her wrist and shoved her. According to police, Babic denied ever making physical contact with the victim.
Damage
The March 21 issue of the Elmhurst Independent contained an error in the police reports. Two police reports were combined without spacing. Dennis McNamara Jr., 44, of Chicago, was issued citations for improper lane usage, no seat belt, and damage to city property. He was issued tickets for traffic offenses and was not arrested for assault and resisting arrest. His b.a.e. was tested at 0.0.
March 16
A complainant in the 100 block of E. North told police that an unknown suspect(s) struck his brother’s car with a paintball. An investigation is pending.
Domestic battery, domestic incident, disorderly conduct, disturbance, dispute
March 20
Spencer A. Diaz, 21, of Elmhurst, was issued a citation for disorderly conduct near Route 83 and St. Charles at 5:12 p.m. According to police, a victim related after confronting the suspect for hitting his car with a taco, the suspect kicked his vehicle’s front driver’s side door. Police said a reporting officer made contact with the suspect, who told police he attempted to throw a taco at a friend who was in another vehicle but missed.
March 16
Police said a reporting officer in the 200 block of S. Monterey responded to a domestic disturbance at 10:44 a.m. The victim stated his son punched him. The suspect stated his father grabbed him and threw him to the ground. Due to no signs of injury and conflicting stories, no arrests were made.
Police said a complainant in the 300 block of E. Cayuga told police her mother had grabbed her and scratched her after getting into an argument. The mother related her daughters were in an argument and the entire incident got out of hand. Peace was restored, and the reporting officer left with no issues.
March 15-March 16
Police said that subsequent to a report of a disturbance in the 200 block of W. Butterfield, a complainant related she saw two juveniles ring her doorbell and then proceeded to kick her side basement window. On the following day, the complainant noticed there were eggs on the side wall of her house. An investigation is pending.
DUI, DUI-drugs, transportation of open alcohol, possession of open alcohol, consumption of alcohol by a minor
March 19
Dulce Raymoundo, 30, of Chicago, was charged with DUI-drugs, endangering the life or health of a child, attempt battery, improper lane usage, improper lighting, violating the minimum speed regulation, resisting a police officer and no insurance subsequent to a traffic stop near Lake and West at 11:51 p.m.
March 16
Andrew Milne, 38, of Villa Park, was charged with DUI and criminal damage to property in the 600 block of W. St. Charles at 1:18 p.m.
March 15
Beth A. Engel, 57, of Elmhurst, was issued a citation for hosting an underage party where alcohol was consumed by minors in the 400 block of S. Rex at 12:41 a.m.
March 14
Nicholas Milovanovic, 29, of Carol Stream, was charged with DUI, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, disobeying a traffic control device and no insurance subsequent to a traffic crash near Lake and County Line at 3:13 a.m.
Identity theft, fraud, forgery
According to information provided by the Elmhurst Police Department, police reported six incidents of identity theft or fraud.
Possession of cannabis in a vehicle
According to information provided last week by the Elmhurst Police Department, police reported three incidents of possession of cannabis by either the driver of a vehicle or a passenger: Alaa Bataineh, 22, of Lombard, near Fairview and St. Charles at 11:43 p.m. March 14; Carlos E. Guzman-Gonzalez, 25, of Villa Park, near Route 83 and St. Charles at 7:43 a.m. March 15; and Ashley Sopoci, 30, of Lombard, near North and Route 83 at 4:45 p.m. March 20.
Suspicious incident
March 15-March 16
A reporting officer responded to the 100 block of N. Caroline for a suspicious circumstances report where the victim found a bullet hole to their house. An investigation is pending.
Theft, retail theft, burglary, attempted theft or burglary, forgery, deceptive practice, obstruction, robbery
March 18
A victim at a fitness center in the 600 block of N. York told police that an unknown suspect(s) stole two credit cards from his gym locker and attempted to make fraudulent purchases. An investigation is pending.
March 16
Police said that subsequent to a report of a retail theft in progress at a store in the 300 block of S. Route 83 at 5:16 p.m., a complainant related two suspects concealed several items in their pockets. A reporting officer placed both suspects under arrest and transported them to the station. Jamie O. Baracaldo Benavides, 26, of Cicero, was charged with retail theft and criminal damage to property. The second suspect, a juvenile, was referred to Juvenile Probation.
March 15
Police said officers were alerted about suspects from a prior theft who had returned to a store in the 300 block of S. Route 83 at 7:44 p.m. The suspects were observed allegedly taking and concealing merchandise. The suspects reportedly exited the store without paying for $1,300 in merchandise and were subsequently placed under arrest and transported to the police station. Ronald Brito-Padilla, 24, and Erick Quevedo-Nino, 34, both of Chicago, were charged with felony retail theft and felony burglary. Brito-Padilla was also found to have a warrant out of the Hodgkins Police Department, police said.
Robert E. Martin, 56, of Chicago, was charged with felony retail theft, driving while license suspended, driving with one taillight and no insurance near I-290 and Route 83 at 7:58 p.m. Police said officers located a vehicle involved in a prior retail theft. According to police, a reporting officer located the suspect’s vehicle and a traffic stop was conducted. Martin committed to a retail theft on that occurred Dec. 27, 2023, and was also found to be driving while license suspended, according to police.
Edwards Myron, 31, of Chicago, was charged with retail theft, burglary, obstructing identification, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Police said Myron was also found to be wanted for two arrest warrants. Michael B. Howard, 43, of Chicago, was charged with retail theft and burglary. Police said the suspects took $1,200 worth of liquor from a store and exited without paying.
A victim in the 400 block of W. Lake told police that an unknown suspect(s) stole his vehicle from the above location. A check of the ALPR system showed the vehicle traveling east bound on Lake and Walnut at 2:59 a.m. The vehicle was entered into LEADS as stolen.
Jan. 19-March 14
A complainant at a rent-a-car business in the 800 block of N. York told police that the suspect rented a vehicle from them and has yet to return it. A certified letter was sent to the suspect with no response. An investigation is pending.
March 13
Police said that responded to a convenience store in the 100 block of E. First on Nov. 4 for the report of a retail theft that had just occurred. According to police, a complainant related the suspect, identified as Destiny Williams, 24 of Alsip, exited the store with various tobacco items and fled in a black SUV westbound on First Street. Subsequent to an investigation, police said an arrest warrant was obtained for Williams. On the above date, police said Williams turned herself in on the warrant, and was charged with retail theft.
A complainant in the 400 block of N. Elm told police that an unknown suspect(s) depleted all of his Crypto currency accounts.
