Loaded Gun Found After Restaurant Report: Des Plaines Blotter

DES PLAINES, IL — A West Chicago man faces a felony weapons charge after police investigated a report of a person carrying a handgun inside a restaurant, according to the Des Plaines Police Department's latest crime reports.

The reports also included an officer allegedly being struck during an arrest, a driver found asleep facing the wrong direction on Miner Street and several hit-and-run crashes.

The following information was provided by the Des Plaines Police Department. Please remember that although a person may be charged with a crime, a charge is merely an accusation, and the person is innocent until proven guilty.

LOADED HANDGUN RECOVERED

Rafael Torres, 35, of the 500 block of Lyman Street, West Chicago, was arrested at 5:08 p.m. Oct. 24, in the 1200 block of East Algonquin Road.

Officers responded to La Marina Mariscos after receiving a report that a man had a handgun in his waistband. They located a Ford F-150 occupied by Torres and a woman matching the descriptions provided.

Police stopped the truck from leaving. As officers spoke with the driver, Torres moved inside the vehicle and appeared to reach beneath his passenger seat, according to the report.

A search recovered a loaded Beretta handgun. Torres had a valid Firearm Owner's Identification card but no concealed carry license. Witness statements and surveillance footage showed him possessing the gun inside the restaurant, police said.

He was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, cited and released with court information.

AGGRAVATED BATTERY, ASSAULT TO OFFICERS

Christopher L. Scott, 47, of the 9000 block of Federal Court, Des Plaines, was arrested at 2:03 a.m. Oct. 24, in the 700 block of South Lee Street.

Officers responding to a report of people openly drinking at a park found open alcohol and instructed the group to clean up and leave.

Scott allegedly approached an officer with clenched fists, took a fighting stance and challenged the officer to remove his vest and fight. While officers attended to another person who appeared heavily intoxicated, Scott approached again and attempted to push officers, according to police.

When an officer grabbed his arm, Scott turned and struck the officer, the report states.

He was charged with aggravated battery to a peace officer, two counts of aggravated assault of a peace officer and obstructing a peace officer. He was transported to a courthouse for a detention hearing.

DUI, WRONG-WAY VEHICLE

Babatunde A. Falade, 41, of the 7200 block of North Oakley Avenue, Chicago, was arrested at 3:29 a.m. Oct. 25, in the 1600 block of Miner Street.

A motorist flagged down an officer around 3:09 a.m. and pointed toward a Toyota Prius stopped facing west in the eastbound lanes. Falade appeared to be asleep in the driver’s seat.

Officers woke him and observed signs of intoxication, including slurred speech and difficulty maintaining his balance. A bottle of alcohol was visible on the passenger-side floorboard, according to police.

Falade completed one field sobriety test before refusing the remaining tests. He also refused a breath test at the station.

He was charged with DUI and cited for driving on the wrong side of the road, improper parking on a roadway and operating an uninsured vehicle. Falade was cited and released with court information.

HIT-AND-RUN ARREST

Juan I. Gurrola, 53, of the 1400 block of Everett Avenue, Des Plaines, was arrested at 7:06 p.m. Oct. 23, in that block following a crash in the 900 block of Graceland Avenue.

A driver reported that Gurrola's Ford F-550 changed lanes while traveling south and sideswiped the driver’s side rearview mirror before leaving.

A witness followed the truck and provided its license plate number, allowing officers to locate Gurrola at his residence. He acknowledged driving but denied being involved in a crash, according to police.

He was charged with failure to remain at the scene of a vehicle-damage crash and cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash. Gurrola was cited and released with court information.

ORDER OF PROTECTION

Magdalena Wojtanowicz, 48, of the 700 block of East Madelyn Drive, Des Plaines, was arrested at 3:08 p.m. Oct. 24, in that block.

A person reported that Wojtanowicz was on the property in violation of an order of protection. Officers confirmed the order was active and had been served, then located her in the residence's basement.

She was charged with violating an order of protection and taken to a courthouse for a detention hearing.

HIT-AND-RUN CRASHES

A driver reported at 11:39 a.m. Oct. 23, that a white box truck changed lanes and struck their front passenger bumper while both vehicles traveled south in the 300 block of North Wolf Road. The truck driver left without providing information.

Another driver reported at 6:36 p.m. Oct. 24, that a blue BMW struck their rear bumper while they were stopped at a red light at Wolf and Rand roads. The BMW continued south on Wolf Road without providing information.

DUI, NICOR TRUCK CRASH

Stephen L. Lewandowski, 65, of the 8500 block of North Greenwood Avenue, Niles, was arrested Oct. 21, in the 1500 block of Rand Road after a crash at Rand and Golf roads.

Officers responding around 5:17 p.m. located Lewandowski driving away. He allegedly struck a Nicor truck and failed to remain at the scene.

Lewandowski displayed signs of intoxication, acknowledged drinking and completed field sobriety tests. A station breath test registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.167, according to police.

He was charged with two counts of DUI, leaving the scene of a property-damage crash, failure to reduce speed and operating an uninsured vehicle. He was processed and released with citations.

BATTERY, RESISTING AN OFFICER

Randy R. Boyd, 40, of the 1500 block of Center Street, Des Plaines, was charged Oct. 21, following an investigation into an Oct. 16 battery at Dollar Tree in the 1000 block of East Oakton Street.

Surveillance footage showed Boyd punching a customer twice in the face before leaving, according to police. The customer sustained jaw injuries and redness behind his ear and neck.

An officer responding to an unrelated call Oct. 21 recognized Boyd. After being taken to the station, Boyd allegedly resisted a search and struggled with officers. An officer sustained a cheek abrasion.

Boyd was charged with battery and aggravated resisting a peace officer and released with a citation and notice to appear in court.

FRONT DOOR DAMAGED

A resident of the 2200 block of Ottawa Street reported around 6:45 a.m. Oct. 21, that someone rang his doorbell and repeatedly pounded on the front door the previous day while his son was inside.

The resident later found the door misaligned and its deadbolt inoperable with a key. He believed the pounding may have caused the damage.

SMART GLASSES REPORTED STOLEN

A person reported around 12:15 p.m. Oct. 21, that Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses valued at $469 were missing from a rental vehicle returned to Hertz in the 2100 block of South Mannheim Road.

The glasses had been left in a Buick Encore GX repossessed in Chicago July 1. The person discovered them missing while retrieving belongings.

DOMESTIC BATTERY

Mohammed Ahmed, 64, of the 400 block of North Third Avenue, Des Plaines, was arrested at 11:01 a.m. Oct. 21, in that block.

Ahmed allegedly pushed a person in the chest, causing them to lose their balance and strike their head against a wall. The person declined medical attention and signed a complaint.

Ahmed was charged with domestic battery and held for a detention hearing.

ASSAULT, RESISTING, WARRANT

Ronald M. Bennett, 44, of the 1000 block of East 194th Street, Glenwood, was arrested around 11:05 a.m. Oct. 21, in the 800 block of Rand Road.

Officers responding to a customer-management dispute said Bennett became aggressive, stepped toward an officer threateningly and made intimidating statements while being directed to leave a business.

He returned after being told to stay away and resisted being placed in a squad car, according to police. He faces assault and resisting a police officer charges.

Officers also confirmed an active Will County criminal trespass warrant. He was transported to Skokie for a court hearing.

STALKING NO-CONTACT ORDER

Shane Overton, of the 600 block of Greenview Avenue, Des Plaines, was arrested at 12:58 p.m. Oct. 21, in that block.

Officers investigated a report the previous afternoon that Overton yelled profanities at protected individuals while aggressively driving out of a driveway. A witness corroborated the account, and officers recovered video evidence.

He was charged with violating a stalking no-contact order and held for a detention hearing.

FAILURE-TO-APPEAR WARRANT

Michael W. Hardiman, 64, of the 2000 block of Eastview Drive, Des Plaines, was arrested Oct. 22, following a traffic stop in the 2100 block of Eastview Drive.

Officers confirmed an active Cook County warrant for failure to appear. He was transported to the station and sent to a detention hearing.

FAILURE-TO-APPEAR WARRANT

Tomasz Dawid, 34, of the 900 block of Parkview Lane, Des Plaines, was arrested following a well-being check around 4:38 p.m. Oct. 22, in that block.

After addressing the well-being concern, officers took Dawid into custody on an active Cook County warrant for failure to appear.

LAST TIME: Fake Gold Offered As Thieves Take Man's Necklace: Des Plaines Blotter