Evergreen Park Man Admits He 'Ripped Off Some Cocaine': POLICE

A man sitting on the front steps of a home without shoes and wearing only socks was detained for police after he jumped over a backyard fence, alarming the homeowner, reports said.

Oak Lawn police responded to the 9100 block of South Sproat Avenue around 12:47 a.m. Dec. 8.

The homeowner told police he was standing on the back patio smoking when he heard someone try to open his neighbor’s fence gate. He looked around the corner saw a man later identified as Nico Fuentes, 21, of Evergreen Park, hop over the fence and land his backyard, according to the report.

Police said the homeowner confronted Fuentes, who tried to run away. Fuentes told the homeowner, “I’m running for my life.”

A voice on the other side of the fence, someone yelled, “hey, you stole my money,” reports said.

The homeowner told Fuentes to lay on the ground, and then looked to see if anyone else was around, but the yeller had left.

Police said the homeowner called 911 while continuing to detain Fuentes. When officers arrived they found Fuentes sitting on the front step in his stocking feet.

When the officer asked Fuentes what happened to his shoes, Fuentes allegedly replied, “It’s easier to run without them because I ripped off a guy for some cocaine.”

The Evergreen Park man went on to further explain that he had hopped the fence to get away, stating, “I think I dropped the bag by the fence,” reports said.

Officers said that Fuentes appeared slightly intoxicated and smelled of alcoholic beverages. Fuentes allegedly admitted to drinking six bottles of Modelo beer.

Police searched the yard and found a plastic bag on the ground containing a white powdery substance that later tested positive for cocaine, reports said.

According to police, Fuentes said he was at a friend’s house hanging out and drinking beer, when his friend wanted to buy some cocaine. The friend called a dealer using Fuentes’ phone. Because Fuentes only had $2, he revealed his plan to rip off the dealer.

Police said Fuentes decided to leave his boots behind so he could run faster. After Fuentes shorted the dealer, he grabbed the cocaine and ran, dropping into the homeowner’s yard, reports said.

Fuentes allegedly told police that accidentally dropped the cocaine after jumping the fence. Police said Fuentes was extremely cooperative and voluntarily allowed them to look at his phone, which showed the purported drug dealer’s phone number.

Around the time that police initially received the 911 call, there were several text messages on Fuentes phone, asking “y you [steel] my money,’ followed by three more consecutive messages, “Y, Y,Y.”

The homeowner signed a complaint for disorderly conduct. Fuentes was also charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, police said.

Fuentes had a bond hearing on Dec. 8.