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
April 21
Police said victims at Elmhurst Hospital related that while attempting to stop a patient from hurting herself, the patient lashed out, physically assaulting them. Charges are pending.
April 19
Police said officers responded to a report of a combative suspect at Elmhurst Hospital at 11:26 p.m. The suspect reportedly refused to leave and allegedly kicked two employees. According to police, the suspect also resisted officers while being placed under arrest and was transported to the police station. The suspect, Shekeena Walker, 39, of Bellwood, was charged with two counts of battery, three counts of resisting or obstructing a police officer and disorderly conduct, and was issued a no trespass notice.
A complainant in the 200 block of N. Addison reported the suspect threw objects at him during an argument. The complainant wanted the incident documented.
Domestic battery, domestic incident, disorderly conduct, disturbance, dispute
April 19
A 44-year-old Elmhurst man was charged with felony domestic battery in the 700 block of N. Michigan at 5:39 p.m. The suspect reportedly had thrown an object at the victim, causing injury.
A 36-year-old Elmhurst man was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 1-100 block of Willow Tree Court at 10:28 p.m. A reporting officer responded to the police station for a victim who reported being battered by the suspect.
A complainant at a church in the 800 block of N. Church reported the suspect entered the church after being told by staff not to enter. The suspect was served with a no trespass notice.
A suspect declined to present their membership card to staff at a fitness center in the 100 block of S. West, became hostile and left. The suspect was issued a no trespass notice.
Police said that subsequent to a report of a suspicious person at a coffee shop in the 100 block of N. York, the suspect’s behavior was making customers uncomfortable. The suspect was issued a no trespass notice.
DUI, DUI-drugs, transportation of open alcohol, possession of open alcohol, consumption of alcohol by a minor
April 20
Thatianaliz Batista, 33, of Berkeley, was charged with DUI, driving the wrong way on a roadway and no insurance subsequent to a traffic stop near York and Butterfield at 12:01 a.m.
Ruben Muneton, 51, of Schiller Park, was charged with DUI and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident in the 600 block of W. Grand at 4:48 p.m.
Fleeing, eluding
According to information provided last week by the Elmhurst Police Department, police reported one incident of fleeing and eluding during which the driver of a vehicle fled the scene after being stopped for a traffic stop by police.
Identity theft, fraud
According to information provided by the Elmhurst Police Department, police reported two 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 two incidents of possession of cannabis by either the driver of a vehicle or a passenger: Deante White, 28, of Chicago, near Highview and North at 8:30 p.m. April 18; and Jordan Beltz, 29, of Cortland, near West and North at 12:50 a.m. April 24.
Possession of a controlled substance
April 24
Billy Epting Jr., 49, of Bellwood, was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, no valid registration and no insurance near Route 83 and I-290 at 6:22 p.m.. Luis Padilla 62, of Chicago, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing identification. Police said Padilla also was found to have two valid warrants out of DuPage County. According to police, officers responded to the above location for the report of an attempted retail theft that just occurred. Police said the suspect’s vehicle was located and a traffic stop was conducted.
Theft, retail theft, burglary, attempted theft or burglary, forgery, deceptive practice, obstruction, robbery
April 24
Christian Soto-Medina, 34, of Chicago, was charged with Burglary, two counts of retail theft, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and Resisting a Police Officer at a store in the 300 block of S. Route 83 at 5:56 p.m. Police said the suspect found to be in possession of stolen merchandise and in possession of a controlled substance.
Nov. 24, 2023-April 24
A complainant at an auto dealership in the 700 block of W. Grand told police that an unknown suspect fraudulently purchased two vehicles from them between the above dates. The vehicles purchased were later discovered to be used in a retail theft in another jurisdiction. An investigation is pending.
April 23
Joanna Castiglia, 47, of Wheaton, was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated fleeing and eluding, driving while license suspended and possession of drug paraphernalia near North and York at 7:31 p.m. According to police, a reporting officer attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle that was reported stolen out of Winfield. The driver of the vehicle allegedly fled from officers, but the tires were deflated. Police said Castiglia also was found to have two active warrants out of DuPage and Cook counties. A passenger in the vehicle was released without charges.
April 22
A victim in the 400 block of S. Stratford reported he received a notification on his laptop stating it had been hacked. The victim called a phone number and spoke to a subject who informed the victim that he needed to secure funds. The victim deposited money into a Bitcoin machine before realizing this was a scam. This case is pending investigation.
A victim in the 100 block of W. Brush Hill told police she received a notification that her computer had a virus. The victim called the number provided and spoke to an unknown subject who related the victim needed to secure funds. The victim then withdrew funds and deposited it into a Bitcoin machine before realizing this was a scam.
April 21
Police said officers responded for the report of a retail theft in progress at a store in the 300 block of S. Route 83 at 11:24 a.m. According to police, officers met with Catherine Garrett, 56, of Chicago, outside of the store where she relinquished the stolen merchandise, and was found to be in possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia. Garrett was charged with two counts of felony retail theft, burglary, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of another’s credit card. Jasmine Garrett, 31, of Berwyn, also was charged with felony retail theft .
April 20
A victim at a pub in the 100 block of N. Addison reported an unknown suspect(s) removed money from her purse when it was unattended. This case is pending investigation.
April 19
A suspect at a store in the 300 block of S. Route 83 exited the store with two boxes filled with merchandise. An investigation is pending.
A victim in the 200 block W. First reported that she accidentally sent the wrong person money on Zelle. The victim contacted the suspect and requested for the money to be returned. The suspect denied getting money. Investigation pending.
April 18
A reporting officer observed a GMC Sierra truck in the 200 block of N. Larch bearing Illinois registration drive through a red light. The reporting officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop when the offending vehicle pulled into the garage at the above location and immediately closed it. An investigation is pending.
A victim told police that she had been communicating with a subject who she believed was a famous singer. The subject asked the victim to purchase a $500 Apple gift card in order to meet him. Medics arrived on scene, and the victim was transported to Elmhurst Hospital for an evaluation.
April 17-April 18
A victim in the 400 block of N. York told police she was notified by Experian that her personal information had been compromised.
April 16-April 17
Police said a victim near North and Elm reported a suspect stole a portable Wi-Fi device from his truck sometime between the above dates. This case is pending investigation.
April 12-April 17
A victim in the 700 block of S. Stratford told police she sent a check and was later notified by her bank that the check was found to be washed and forged. Further investigation is pending.
April 24
Ezequiel Guerrero, 22, of Chicago, a passenger in a vehicle, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and possession of cannabis subsequent to a traffic stop near North and Highland at 10:15 a.m. The driver of the vehicle, Erick Licea, 25, of Bensenville, was charged with possession of cannabis.
Warrant arrest
April 24
Police said officers responded to Elmhurst Hospital for the report of a dispute. Upon officers’ arrival, the suspect, Wayne E. Dearmond, 41, of Hillside, was found to have a valid warrant out of Cook County, according to police. Dearmond was issued a no trespass notice and transported to the DuPage County Jail for the warrant arrest.
April 20
Police said Olivia M. Wojcik, 35, of Villa Park, was found to have an active warrant subsequent to a traffic stop near Monterey and St. Charles at 3:27 a.m. Wojcik also was charged with an expired registration.
