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 7
Joseph Orrico, 18, of Oak Brook, was charged with battery, resisting a police officer, consumption of alcohol by a minor and attempted possession of fictitious identification in the 600 block of S. Saylor at around 11:48 a.m. Police said that subsequent to a check on well-being of an intoxicated subject, Orrico ran from officers and attempted to strike another person. According to police, Orrico initially resisted the officer while attempting to take Orrico into custody.
March 5
A victim at a store in the 600 block of N. York told police at around 7:06 a.m. that an unknown suspect described as a white male threw yogurt at him and punched him in the face. The unknown suspect left the scene in a black Jeep Cherokee. Officers searched the area with no results; the victim declined to investigate the matter and did not wish to pursue charges.
Criminal trespass, criminal damage
March 10
A victim in the 100 block of N. York told police at around 3:24 p.m. that an unknown suspect(s) keyed the driver’s side door of her 2017 Toyota Rav4 while it was parked at the above location.
A complainant at a funeral home in the 1300 block of S. York told police at around 7:08 p.m. that an unknown suspect(s) damaged a stone pillar located in the parking lot of the funeral home. The pillar appeared to be knocked off of its base and several stones in the pillar were knocked loose.
March 7
While assisting another with an unrelated traffic stop near Parkside and Vallette at around 8:05 p.m., police said an officer observed Michael Lestina, 25, of Addison, pull on the rear car door handle of a fully marked squad car. Lestina, police said, was found to be intoxicated and was subsequently arrested for attempted criminal trespass to a vehicle.
Domestic battery, domestic incident, disorderly conduct, disturbance
March 11
A 24-year-old Elmhurst man was charged with two counts of domestic battery in the 600 block of Crockett at around 2:33 a.m. Police said officers responded to a report of an intoxicated suspect who was yelling and slamming doors in the home. The victim told police that the suspect poked her in the forehead. Officers observed a red abrasion on the victim’s forehead.
March 9
Eliot M. Pontius, 57, of Berwyn, was issued a citation for disorderly conduct in the 500 block of Howard at around 11:36 a.m. According to police, a complainant related that Pontius make a delivery at the residence, walk to the side of the home, and urinate next to the garbage cans. Police said Pontius denied urinating; however, the officer stated there was an odor of urine next to the garbage cans.
DUI, DUI-drugs, illegal transportation of alcohol, open alcohol in public, consumption of alcohol by a minor, public intoxication
March 9
Daniel P. Lynch, 37, of Joliet, was charged with DUI and speeding subsequent to a traffic stop near Lake and Willow at around 3:44 p.m.
March 7
Brittany Acovelli, 25, of Lombard, was charged with DUI in the 100 block of E. First at around 2:13 a.m. Police said that subsequent to a driver sleeping behind the wheel, Acovelli was found to be driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Jerri Hall-Gortowski, 63, of Elmhurst, was charged with DUI, resisting a police officer, driving on the wrong side of the road, improper lane usage and no insurance subsequent to a traffic stop near Mitchell and Vallette at around 8:18 p.m.
Susan Krueger, 64, of West Chicago, was charged with DUI and failure to signal when required subsequent to a traffic stop near St. Charles and Route 83 at around 2:15 a.m.
Lolita Phillips, 46, of Villa Park, was charged with DUI-drugs, no valid driver’s license and improper lane usage subsequent to a traffic stop near Riverside and Route 83 at around 6:01 a.m.
Cydney Robinson, 28, of Bellwood, was charged with DUI, improper lane usage and no insurance subsequent to a traffic stop near St. Charles and Kenmore at around 1:49 a.m.
Fleeing, eluding
March 9
Police said that subsequent to an investigation of a suspicious vehicle near Riverside and Route 83 at around 8:41 p.m., the vehicle was reported stolen out of Hammond, Ind. An officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop and the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed. The officer ceased following the vehicle and returned to patrol.
March 5
Doreea Haden, 20, of Mundelein, was charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and no insurance near North and Route 83 at around 10:41 a.m. Police said a reporting officer located Haden and another suspect who fled the scene of a vehicle crash.
Obstruction
March 6
Police said officers responded to a business in the 200 block of N. Route 83 at around 7:40 p.m. for the report of a disturbance. Officers met with the complainant who stated she witnessed both parties involved in a verbal argument. No injuries were reported and both parties were released from the scene. Upon further investigation it was determined the suspect had given false information. An inquiry was conducted on the suspect’s name and was found to have an active warrant out of Lake County. The case is pending investigation.
Theft/burglary/attempted theft or burglary/identity theft/fraud/forgery/deceptive practice/obstruction/robbery
March 11
Theft was reported in the 700 block of Larch at around 6:44 p.m. A victim told police that while he was a work, an unknown suspect(s) removed his wallet from his unsecured locker. The victim’s driver’s license and Illinois state ID card were entered into LEADS.
March 3-March 10
Residential theft was reported in the 200 block of E. Fremont. A victim told police that upon returning home from an out of town trip, she found her PlayStation 4, one console controller, and a silver/green ring were missing from her apartment. An investigation is pending.
March 10
Burglary to a vehicle was reported in the 200 block of W. First at around 8:44 p.m. A victim told police that an unknown suspect(s) shattered the rear passenger window of her secured gold Honda Accord, while it was parked in the parking lot and removed her tote bag. The victim’s cell phone was located in the area of I-290 and I-294 and was returned to her. The victim’s driver’s license was entered into LEADS.
Burglary to a vehicle was reported in the 100 block of S. West at around 9:07 p.m. A victim told police that an unknown suspect(s) smashed the front driver’s side window of her secured Hyundai Tucson while it was parked in the parking lot. The suspect removed a small backpack.
Identity theft was reported in the 300 block of S. Kenilworth at around 9:36 a.m. A victim told police that she received an email from American Express notifying her of a new line of credit. The victim contacted American Express and informed them that she never applied for a credit card. No charges were made to the account. She closed the account and contacted the credit bureaus.
March 8
Theft was reported at a business in the 100 block of N. Addison at around 4:37 p.m. A reporting officer met with a victim who reported her black key fob and sunglasses were stolen from a cubby at the above location. The case is pending investigation.
March 6
Identity theft was reported in the 100 block of W. Brush Hill at around 12:21 p.m. A victim told police that he was notified by All Tax Solutions Services Inc. that his 2019 taxes were refused to be e-filed, due to his Social Security number had already been
used to file taxes. The victim contacted the IRS and filled out the proper identity theft affidavit forms.
Identity theft was reported at a business in the 400 block of W. Fullerton at around 2:36 p.m. A complainant told police that a check was mailed to the business, but it was never received. The complainant learned that the suspect(s) opened a fraudulent bank account using the victim company’s name. An investigation is pending.
March 4-March 5
Identity theft was reported at a business in the 500 block of W. North. A complainant reported an unknown suspect made two counterfeit checks using the company’s name and bank information. The counterfeit checks were cashed at unknown locations sometime between the above dates. The case is pending investigation.
March 3
Identity theft was reported in the 400 block of E. Huntington at around 2:30 p.m. A victim told police that she received a collection notice for dental services from Aspen Dental. The victim contacted Aspen to report the error and learned the bill was for services provided to the suspect in Goodyear, Ariz.
Feb. 28
Identity theft was reported in the 100 block of Lawndale at around 9:53 a.m. A victim told police that an unknown suspect(s) used his personal information to open several credit cards, a checking account, and personal loan. A reporting officer provided the victim with information on how to protect himself against identity theft.
Identity theft was reported in the 300 block of N. York at around 11:05 a.m. A victim told police that an unknown suspect(s) used her business information and forged her signature on several fictitious prescriptions and were submitted to two separate Walgreens stores in Wheaton. The reporting officer will follow up with Walgreens for possible suspect information.
Jan. 9-Jan. 10
Forgery was reported in the 300 block of W. Lake. Police said that subsequent to an investigation into checks, which were stolen out of the mail sometime between the above dates, it was learned that the victim had a check stolen. The suspect attempted to cash the check through a mobile deposit. An investigation is pending.
Dec. 12, 2019-Jan. 30
Identity theft was reported in the 200 block of Forest. A victim came into the police station to report an unknown suspect(s) made several unauthorized transactions with his credit card between the above dates. There were 46 unauthorized transactions. The reporting officer provided the victim with information on how to protect himself against identity theft.
Dec. 6-Dec. 31, 2019
Theft was reported in the 200 block of Oneida. A complainant told police that she is prescribed Hydrocodone. Towards the end of December, the complainant noticed about 17-20 pills were missing from the bottle. There have been construction workers and various other people in her home and she does not know who may have taken the pills.
Warrant arrest
March 10
Police said that subsequent to a soliciting complaint in the 700 block of Spring at around 12:05 p.m., Jose Sotelo, 29, of Chicago, was located and was found to be wanted out of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. According to police, Sotelo was arrested and transported to the police station where he was processed for the warrant.
March 8
A 49-year-old Elmhurst man was charged with domestic battery and processed on a warrant in the 500 block of W. Grand at around 4:38 p.m. Police said officers responded to the above address for a report of a suspicious person. A complainant stated the victim walked up to the front desk with no pants on, appearing to be intoxicated. The reporting officer located the victim where she was staying with the suspect. Upon further investigation the suspect was found to have a valid warrant out of DuPage County Sherriff’s Office. The suspect was placed under arrest, but while being detained, he kicked the victim, according to police.
