Battery, Retail Theft: Homewood Blotter

FRIDAY, MAY 1

Speeding, Obstructing Identification

Joshua Washington, 29, of the 900 block of 11th Place, Ford Heights was arrested and charged with speeding, obstructing identification, illegal transportation of alcohol, driving with a suspended license, driving without insurance and improper lane use after a May 1 traffic stop, according to Homewood police reports.

Police clocked Washington at about 4:53 a.m., going 48 mph in a 35-mph zone, traveling northbound on Halsted Street, near Maple Avenue, the report stated. During the stop, Washington identified himself under a false name, which a computer check showed had a suspended license out of Peoria, the report added.

Washington was taken into custody, and a vehicle search revealed an open bottle of Seagram’s Gin on the floorboard behind the driver’s seat, the report stated. At the station, Washington gave police his real name, the report added.

THURSDAY, APRIL 30

Battery, Retail Theft

Jim Alan Szutenbach, 25, of Crown Point, Ind., was arrested and charged with battery and retail theft after an April 30 incident, according to Homewood police reports.

Police responded to a call at 2:51 p.m. from an employee at Menards, 17545 S. Halsted St., concerning a man who allegedly shoplifted merchandise from the store and then fled, the report stated. A store manager and loss prevention agent chased after the man but lost him, the report added.

While officers searched the area, the store manager spotted and identified Szutenbach sitting in a Subway sandwich shop, 17627 S. Halsted St., the report stated. That’s when Szutenbach fled again, pushing the manager to the ground and taking off his sweatshirt as he ran, the report added.

Police eventually caught up with him in a nearby Target parking lot, 17620 S. Halsted St., and took him into custody, the report stated.

The cost of the merchandise Szutenbach is accused of taking was $68.65, the report stated. His court date is June 2.

Police Blotter information is provided by local law enforcement agencies. 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.