Cops Say Sex Offender Was ‘Too Busy’ To Update Registration

An Evergreen Park man who has let his annual sex offender registration lapse in the past is now facing felony charges after he was picked up by Oak Lawn police for traffic violations, reports said.

According to police, an officer was waiting at a red light when he heard a car horn blasting around 6:13 a.m. April 29. Another motorist directed the cop’s attention to the offending vehicle, a white Saturn.

The officer followed the Saturn westbound to the 5800 block of West 95th Street. During that time, the officer watched the driver make an improper lane change and cut off another vehicle, repots said.

Police curbed the car at 95th Street and McVicker Avenue. The driver, identified as Daniel G. Phelan, 42, of Evergreen Park, was unable to provide proof of insurance, the officer said.

While speaking to Phelan, the officer learned from radio dispatchers that he was overdue on updating his sex offender registration, police said. Further, Phelan was unable to provide the officer with paper work showing his last registration date, according to the report.

Phelan allegedly acknowledged that he was overdue on his sex offender registration. He also stated that he had been late before, police said.

He was taken into custody without incident. At the Oak Lawn police station, Phelan told officers he knew was supposed to re-register three months ago, but he was "busy" and the Evergreen Park police were "busy," too.

Police said he confirmed that he had never gone to the Evergreen Park police station to verify if they were actually busy.

Phelan allegedly claimed that he lost his wallet with the sex offender registry form, and that no one had reminded him that he needed to update his registration.

Illinois State Police verified that Phelan had not registered with another police agency since Jan. 17, 2014.

Felony charges were approved for failure to register and providing false information. Phelan was also cited for excessive use of horn, improper lane usage, no proof of insurance and driving without a license.

The Evergreen Park man has two prior violations in September 2000 for failure to register, and December 2006 for not reporting an address change, police said.

Phelan, of the 9800 block of South Pulaski Road in Evergreen Park, is listed as “non- compliant” on the Illinois Sex Offender Registry, which notes a conviction for criminal sexual assault by force with a 14-year-old victim. Phelan was 18 years old at the time.

Phelan is currently being held at Cook County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail. His next court appearance is May 22.