Heroin Turns Up in Cigarette Box: Police Blotter

SUNDAY, SEPT. 16

Stolen Car

A 2000 Chrysler Voyager was stolen sometime between Sept. 13 and Sept. 16 from a lot in the 7300 block of Circle Avenue.

Driving on a Revoked License

Desmond E. Smith, 41, of Chicago was charged with felony driving on a revoked license after being pulled over in the area of First Avenue and Roosevelt Road for having a license plate cover over the rear registration plate, police said.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 15

Retail Theft

Angelique Johnson, 43, of Chicago was charged with felony retail theft after she tried to leave the store with a cart-load of items from Walmart, police said. According to police, Johnson placed several items into her cart and went to customer service, where she attempted to return a water filter that she had with her when she entered the store, police said. When the employee rejected the return, Johnson placed the item back in her cart and tried to leave the store. In the cart were: two pillows, a 3-pack of energy drink, a 12-pack of Red Bull, two televisions, an iPad dock, a DVD player and a bottle of laundry detergent. The total value was $604.08.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 14

Retail Theft

Regina Givens, 47, of Chicago was charged with felony retail theft after she attempted to leave Walmart, 1300 Des Plaines Ave., with pre-paid debit cards that were hidden in her pants, police said. Police said Givens had been given the cards by a friend and planned to sell them on the street.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12

Heroin Possession 

Brian D. Pickering, 28, of Joliet was charged with possession of a controlled substance and other offenses after his car was pulled over on westbound I-290 for improper use of a turn signal, police said. According to police, Pickering's car merged on to the Eisenhower Expressway at Harlem Avenue with its right turn signal on, causing a number of cars to allow Pickering's 1994 Buick to change lanes.

After having difficulty answering a few questions, Pickering, in response to one query, told the officer that he had some needles and a cooker inside his sock. A search of the car turned up a sock in the front passenger seat that contained two hypodermic syringes and a metal contaner with a burnt underside. Also found in the front passenger seat was a cigarette box containing four clear baggies containing an off-white powdery substance, which field tested positive for heroin. He also was charged with driving without insurance, possession of drug equipment and possession of a hypodermic needle, police said.

MONDAY, SEPT. 10

Driving on a Suspended License

Joel E. Serrano, 22, of Forest Park was charged with driving on a suspended, revoked license and other offenses after he caused a traffic accident at Harvard Street and Elgin Avenue, police said. Police said the other driver was traveling east on Harvard approaching the intersection of Elgin when Serrano abruptly turned in front of the victim's vehicle. A name check revealed he also was wanted out of Berkeley for obstructing identification; a warrant for his arrest was issued in April 2012. He also was charged with driving without insurance and failure to yield at an intersection, police said.

Burglary

A Schwinn bicycle was stolen from the garage of a home in the 7700 block of Adams Street. Entry was gained by forcing open the side entrance door.

Possession of Cannabis

Michael A. Ramos, 24, of Cicero was cited for possession of cannabis under a village ordinance after his car was pulled over in the 7200 block of Roosevelt Road, police said. After curbing the car, police noticed a strong odor of cannabis coming from the vehicle. In doing a custodial search police found a ziplock baggie containing a green leafy substance inside his left sock. The substance tested positive for marijuana, weighing about 1 gram, police said.

Police Blotter information 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.