'Possible Arson' In Burned Bathroom: Highland Park Crime Reports

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The following information comes from the Highland Park Police Department as a record of incidents reported to the police and of those arrested by police. Readers are reminded than an arrest is not an indication of guilt, and criminal charges, which are often dropped or reduced, represent merely accusations by the state. All persons named are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

INCIDENTS

CRIMINAL DAMAGE
Someone jumped over a fence and damaged playground equipment at a park in the 800 block of Clavey Road, it was reported on the morning of Jan. 21.

POSSIBLE ARSON
Police are investigating a possible arson in a bathroom at a business in the 1200 block of Fredrickson Place. An exterior door to a restroom was found damaged, and burns were found inside. The incident was reported on the morning of Jan. 22 but it is not known when it took place.

THEFT
Someone took a padlock off of a locker at a business in the 100 block of Skokie Valley Road sometime between 1 and 2:15 p.m. on Jan. 22 and stole a wallet with identification, credit cards and cash inside.

CAR BURGLARY
Someone entered an unlocked Volkswagen parked in the 600 block of Euclid Avenue and stole a cell phone charger sometime during the overnight hours of Jan. 22-23.

BURGLARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE
Someone entered an unlocked Suzuki and a Honda parked in the 3100 block of Greenwood Avenue, police were told on Jan. 23. A sweatshirt, headphones and change were reported stolen.

BURGLARY FROM MOTOR VEHICLE
Someone entered an unlocked Infinity parked in the 600 block of Warbler Circle sometime between 5 p.m. on Jan. 22 and 8:45 p.m. on Jan. 23. A Valentino purse, a wallet, diaper bag, sunglasses, winter jacket and jewelry were reported stolen.

SHOPLIFTING
Someone entered an unspecified business in the 600 block of Roger Williams Avenue, filled 3 red bags with unknown items and proceeded past the last point of sale with said items without paying, police were told shortly after 6 p.m. on Jan. 25. No description or number of suspects was provided.

THEFT
Someone entered an unspecified business in the 1800 block of Sheridan Road and removed a Frye purse, police were told shortly after 1 p.m. on Jan. 26. The purse was later recovered in a nearby dumpster with only the cash removed.

ARRESTS

A 29-year-old Buffalo Grove man was arrested at 12:43 a.m. on Jan. 23 following a traffic stop near Lake Cook and Ridge roads and charged with driving with a suspended license. He was also issued citations for one red tail light and improper lane usage.

A 23-year-old Palatine man was arrested shortly after 1 a.m. on Jan. 23 and charged with driving with his license suspended and "failing to reduce speed approaching an emergency vehicle" after being stopped by police in the 1500 block of Lake Cook Road.

A 22-year-old Twin Lakes, Wisconsin man was arrested shortly before 8 p.m. on Jan. 24 and charged with driving with a suspended license after police responded to a five-car crash near the intersection of Half Day and Skokie Valley roads.

Mustafa Musawwir, 31, of the 7200 block of North Keating Avenue, Lincolnwood was arrested at 9:48 p.m. on Jan. 25 and charged with driving under the influence, improper lane usage, uninsured motor vehicle, driving with a flat tire, expired registration, possession of 1.5 grams of cannabis and possession of two empty high-capacity magazines in violation of Highland Park's assault weapons after police responded to a complaint of a vehicle continually driving over the lanes in the 1400 block of Park Avenue West.

A 41-year-old Highland Park man was arrested at 2 a.m. on Jan. 27 following a traffic stop near Park Avenue West and Sunnyside Avenue and charged with speeding more than 35 mph over the limit after being stopped by police.

Eduardo Martinez-Leon, 21, of the 300 block of Temple Avenue, Highland Park was arrested around 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 27 on a failure to appear warrant out of Kane County after police located a suspicious vehicle parked in the 300 block of Temple Avenue.

Fernando Mendoza, 34, of the 1000 block of Central Avenue, Highland Park was arrested at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 27 and charged with criminal damage to state property, resisting police and disorderly conduct after police responded to a report of a suspicious person yelling and screaming to himself and scaring children in the vicinity of Sunset Park. He was also reported to have damaged the interior of a public restroom in the 1800 block of Sunset Road around 5:30 p.m.

Last week:

• 3 Drug Arrests In Open Trunk Investigation: Highland Park Police Blotter: Jan. 15 - Jan. 21

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_{Top photo via Highland Park PD}