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.
Child abuse investigation
Oct. 8
A juvenile victim’s father told police at around 1:28 p.m. that he discovered red finger marks on the child’s cheek. The victim stated that the suspect had hit her after an argument. The victim’s father stated that the suspect has hit the juvenile in the past and has already reported the matter to DCFS.
Criminal damage or defacement to property/vehicle/criminal trespass to property/vehicle/damage to property
Oct. 8-Oct. 9
A victim in the 100 block of Lawndale told police that an unknown suspect damaged her landscape lighting between the above dates. One light fixture had been broken and was found lying on the ground.
Oct. 6
A complainant in the 300 block of W. First St. told police that his vehicle was damaged while it was parked in a lot in the above area. He stated that when he parked his car that morning, his rear window was fine. An officer saw that the rear window to the vehicle was completely shattered with the glass on the ground and inside the rear of the vehicle.
Domestic battery
Oct. 5
• Subsequent to a suspicious female call, police said a victim was located in the area of North Avenue and Willow at 12:04 a.m. She was crying and appeared confused. She had blood on her arms and face, and a cut was located on the back of victim’s head, according to police. The victim related she and her husband went to Stone Park and her husband punched her in the face, causing her to fall and strike the back of her head. The victim was treated at the hospital and transported to the Stone Park Police Department to file a report.
• A 30-year-old Elmhurst man was arrested in the 400 block of Stratford at around 12:35 p.m. A victim told police she and her boyfriend had gotten into a verbal argument and he reportedly grabbed the victim by her arms in a bear hug and threw her out of the room. The victim showed visible injuries. The suspect was charged with domestic battery.
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
Oct. 9
Vidal Funes Tomas, 24, of Bensenville, was arrested near northbound York and North End Avenue at around 8:43 a.m. Police said that subsequent to a traffic stop. Funes Tomas was found to be DUI. It was later found that Funes Tomas was involved in a hit and run accident in Addison, according to police. He was charged with aggravated DUI, driving while license suspended, no insurance, speeding and a signal violation.
Oct. 8
Jeric Ballesteros, 40, of Bensenville, was arrested near York and Schiller at around 1:52 a.m. and charged with DUI, disobeying a traffic control device and no insurance, following a traffic stop for allegedly driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
Oct. 7
While at a local high school football game in the 300 block of W. St. Charles, a suspect was found to have been drinking and under the age of 21at around 9:15 p.m. She was cited for consumption of alcohol by minor and released to her father.
Possession of cannabis, drug paraphernalia
Oct. 12
• Harold Verbeke, 40, of Downers Grove, was issued a citation by police for possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia and no rear registration plate light near Butterfield and Bryan at around 2:29 a.m. following a traffic stop.
• DeShawn Williams, 21, of Oak Park, was issued a citation by police for possession of cannabis near North and Maple at around 12:33 a.m. following a traffic stop.
Oct. 8
Lawrence Williams, 25, of Maywood, was issued a citation by police for possession of drug paraphernalia and expired registration, following a traffic stop near Grand and York at around 12:35 a.m.
Oct. 7
• Jordan Brady, 25, of Oswego, and Casey Koesling, 29, of Joliet, were arrested in the 400 block of N. York at around 11:12 p.m. Police said while an officer was on patrol in the parking lot of a gas station, they observed a vehicle parked in the lot with two occupants. While watching the vehicle, the officer observed the passenger allegedly smoking an unknown substance from a tin can. According to police, contact was made with the occupants and hypodermic needles were observed in plain view. A search of the vehicle yielded more needles, and drug paraphernalia, police said. Brady and Koesling were both charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Daniel Loe, 25, of Bensenville, was issued a citation by police for possession of cannabis near Grand and York at around 10:43 p.m. Police said that subsequent to observing a drug transaction near Grand and Industrial, a traffic stop was initiated. According to police, Loe admitted to purchasing cannabis.
• Nicholas Mato, 18, of Elmhurst, was issued a citation by police near Route 83 and Lake at around 2:38 p.m. Police said that subsequent to a traffic stop, and officer smelled fresh cannabis coming from the open driver side door window. Mato was found to have cannabis in his possession, according to police. Mato was cited for possession of cannabis and expired registration.
Oct. 6
• Madeline Pearson, 18, of Elmhurst, was stopped by police near First and Poplar at around 1:59 p.m. Police said that subsequent to a traffic stop, an officer detected an odor of burnt cannabis coming from the vehicle. According to police, during a consent search, cannabis smoking pipes were recovered. Police said Pearson and a juvenile were issued tickets for possession of drug paraphernalia. All were cited and released.
• Christian Vargas, 20, of Stone Park, was issued a citation by police near Fair and St. Charles at around 3:38 p.m. Police said that subsequent to a traffic stop, an officer observed cannabis in plain view. Vargas was cited for possession of cannabis.
Suspicious circumstances
Oct. 5
A victim in the 100 block of E. Brush Hill told police that she is a volunteer worker at Elmhurst Hospital. The victim stated that a suspect followed the victim into an elevator, stood close to her, and made physical contact of an insulting nature. The victim reported this incident to her supervisor later in the day. An investigation is pending.
Theft/burglary/attempted theft or burglary/identity theft/fraud/forgery/deceptive practice/obstruction/robbery
Oct. 12
• Mitchell Hickman, 30, of Aurora, was arrested at a store in the 300 block of S. Route 83 at around 3:07 p.m. Police said Hickman was seen on surveillance leaving the store after failing to pay for two electronics items. He was charged with felony retail theft, unlawful possession of cannabis and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
• A victim in the 100 block of E. Butterfield told police at around 4:32 p.m. that two of his part time employees. who are cashiers have been stealing from the business. Both suspects admitted to the thefts, according to police, and were placed under arrest. Subsequent to a search, Suspect 1 was found to be in possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia. Both suspects released without charges pending an investigation and lab results.
• A complainant at a store in the 300 block of S. Route 83 told police at around 5:37 p.m. that she was walking the floor in the store when she noticed a group of younger people loitering by the bathrooms. She told them to leave and then returned to the loss prevention office where she observed one of them on camera open a bracelet package and walk away with it in hand. The youths were soon outside where the suspect is seen giving the bracelet to a female, according to police.
Oct. 10
A victim in the 400 block of W. Montrose told police that USPS delivered a package to her doorstep at around 12:07 p.m. Oct. 7. When the victim returned home that day, she was unable to locate the package.
Oct. 9-Oct. 10
A victim in the 900 block of N. York told police that an unknown suspect(s) removed several items from her 4 Leaf Clover Garden Center between the above dates. Items taken were pumpkins, pumpkin signs, candle holders, ceramic owls, scarecrows and a potted plant.
Oct. 8-Oct. 10
A complainant in the 700 block of N. Church Road told police at around 6:49 p.m. that an unknown suspect(s) used his business credit card online for purchases to an Apple account.
Oct. 9
• Andre Gonzalez, 35, of Villa Park, was arrested at a store in the 300 block of S. Route 83 at around 3:32 p.m. According to police, store security reported that Gonzalez fled the store with unpaid merchandise. Police said he was located on foot near St. Charles Road and Salt Creek, and stolen merchandise was recovered from the suspect. He was charged with retail theft.
• A complainant in the 100 block of E. Fremont told police his neighbors signs that say “Say No to EEC” were stolen out of their front yards the previous night by a suspect described as a male wearing dark pants, a light colored shirt and possibly dark shoes. The signs signify a protest for the rezoning of several vacant lots on the block.
• A victim in the 400 block of Spring told police that an unknown suspect removed Halloween decorations from her front door at around 7 p.m.
Oct. 8-Oct. 9
A victim in the 800 block of Riverside told police that an unknown suspect removed a semi-trailer from the storage lot.
Oct. 7-Oct. 9
A complainant in the 100 block of S. Prospect Ave. entered his office on Oct. 7 and put his computer inside a bag and left it there for the weekend. On Oct. 9, the complainant requested that security look for his computer/bag in his office around 5 p.m. and it was at this time victim realized the bag was stolen.
Oct. 8
A victim in the 500 block of S. York told police that she is missing her wallet which was in her unlocked vehicle parked at the above location. She believes it was taken between 4 and 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 7
• An officer spoke to an employee at a food store in the 200 block of S. Route 83 who witnessed two subjects allegedly taking a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka and one bottle of Jack Daniels. Both suspects left without paying for the items. The suspects were described as black males, both around 6-foot tall and 160 pounds and both wearing black pants and black hooded sweatshirts. They left the store upon an officer’s arrival.
• A victim in the 600 block of Swain told police at 7:30 p.m. that he received a notice from Best Buy that his credit application had been denied. He also received a bill from a Sam’s Club credit card account. The victim stated that he never applied for a Best Buy credit card and that he does not have a Sam’s Club credit card. The victim advised that he lost his wallet in May and believes that his personal information has been compromised. The victim has contacted various credit companies about the identity theft.
• A victim in the 100 block of S. West told police that at around 9:41 p.m., an unknown suspect(s) apparently shattered the rear passenger side window of her vehicle and removed her black purse which held her wallet containing an unspecified amount of cash, a FOID card, an Illinois driver’s license and numerous credit cards.
• Police said an officer in the 100 block of W. North observed a suspicious vehicle and suspect, who entered a pharmacy at around 9:39 p.m. The suspect reportedly had presented a prescription form to the pharmacy, where she obtained medication. After later speaking with the pharmacy, it was determined that suspect was in possession of a fraudulent prescription form. An investigation is pending.
Oct. 6
A food store in the 600 block of N. York reported that an unknown suspect described as a black male about 25 years old, around 5’9″, 240 pounds, wearing a gray Purdue sweatshirt, blue jeans and a gray flat-brimmed baseball cap purchased a 750 milliliter bottle of Hennessy Black using a counterfeit $100 bill at around 2:48 p.m. The counterfeit bill was not discovered until later.
Oct. 4-Oct. 6
A victim in the 200 block of E. Forest told police at 1 p.m. that someone had gone through her vehicle. The victim stated that she parked her unlocked vehicle in the driveway near the sidewalk on Oct. 4. She later returned to the car and noticed her center console and glove box were open and the contents had been scattered in the vehicle, but nothing was missing.
Sept. 22
An officer spoke with a complainant at a store in the 500 block of W. St. Charles who stated that on Sept. 21, a suspect purchased an authentic Blackhawks jersey from the store then returned it the following day. However it was later discovered that the returned jersey was not the purchased jersey, as it was not authentic and licensed.
Sept. 19
A victim in the 200 block of N. Glenview told police that an unknown suspect used her Social Security information to apply for a Saks Fifth Avenue credit card online. The suspect then allegedly charged merchandise on the account. The victim notified the retailer of the fraud and the account was then canceled.
