Employee Fends off Would-Be Robbers with Metal Pipe: Police Blotter

SUNDAY, SEPT. 9

Simple Assault and Disorderly Conduct

Richard P. Lee, 51, of Oak Park, was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct for yelling obscenities and exposing his buttocks to people waiting for a bus near the CTA Blue Line terminal, 711 Des Plaines Ave., police said. A witness told police he saw Lee take off his sweatshirt and yell obscenities, startling children who also were waiting for the bus. Lee then yelled "kiss my ass" at everyone while pulling down his pants and exposing his buttocks. The witness told police he asked Lee to pull up his pants and felt he was in phyiscal danger because of the threats that Lee posed to him. Police interviewed Lee and noted that he appeared intoxicated given what had happened. Lee repeatedly chuckled and only said "Vote Republican."

THURSDAY, SEPT. 6

Retail Theft

Betty M. Williams, 46, of Chicago, was charged wtih retail theft after she placed clothing, paper, cutlery, earrings and other items into a cart and then into a Walmart bag and attempted to leave the store, at 1300 Des Plaines Ave., police said. The merchandise was valued at $271.14.

Retail Theft

Devonta Smith, 22, of Forest Park, was given a local ordinance ticket for retail theft after she removed a Kindle nylon case from the package, put her own tablet inside and then tried to leave Walmart, police said. The item was valued at $24.88.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 2

Armed Robbery

A female employee, wielding a metal pipe, fended off two men who were attempting to rob USA Beverage, 7200 Madison St., polie said. Police said two men walked into the shop around 6 p.m. and approached the register counter furthest away from the door. One suspect pointed a small handgun while the second suspect walked around the counter. As the suspect with the gun demanded money from a register, a female employee screamed at the subjects and swung a metal pipe, kept behind the counter, at the suspect with the gun. Both men fled the store and ran across Harlem Avenue toward Oak Park Hospital. Hospital security notified Oak Park police that one man, matching the description of one of the suspects, entered the facility and went to the second floor, but security could not find him.

is provided by the Forest Park Police Department. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.

Related Topics: Forest Park police, Possession Of A Controlled Substance, Retail Theft, and traffic arrests