'Five-Finger Discounts' and DUIs: Blotter

SUNDAY, DEC. 20

DUI

George Martinez, 25, of the 13300 block of Carondolet Drive, Chicago, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, driving with a blood-alcohol content over the legal limit and speeding after a Dec. 20 traffic stop, according to Homewood police reports.

Police followed Martinez at around 4:20 a.m. as he was traveling northbound in the 17600 block of Halsted Street and paced him going 70 mph in a 45-mph zone, the report stated. During the stop, the officer could smell an odor of alcohol on Martinez’s breath, and Martinez then failed field sobriety tests, the report added.

Retail Theft

Judge Phinnesee, 26, of the 3000 block of Sherwood Avenue, Markham, was arrested and charged with retail theft after being accused of trying to steal more than $200 in alcohol and other merchandise from Jewel on Dec. 20, according to Homewood police reports.

A loss prevention agent for the store, 3153 W. 183rd Ave., told police he saw on closed-circuit TV Phinnesee put 10 bottles of alcohol, as well as a bottle of Listerine and a bottle of Gatorade into a red book bag and then try to exit the store, the report stated. The items totaled $208.48, the report added.

Later, a store representative told police that security footage showed Phinnesee also was responsible for stealing 10 bottles of alcohol totalling $193.90 on Dec. 19 from the store, according to a Homewood police report filed Dec. 21.

Phinnesee’s court date is Jan. 22.

Retail Theft

Tawana Jackson, 49, of the 19800 block of Lakewood Avenue, Lynwood, was arrested and charged with retail theft after being accused of trying to shoplift $93.44 in merchandise Dec. 20 from Target, 17605 S. Halsted St., according to Homewood police reports.

THURSDAY, DEC. 17

Driving on Suspended License, Possession of Marijuana

Eric Hagan, 19, of the 17200 block of 71st Court, Tinley Park, was arrested and charged with with a suspended license, possession of marijuana and driving with no rear registration light after a Dec. 17 traffic stop, according to Homewood police reports.

Hagan also had an active warrant out of Kane County for the manufacture and/or delivery of marijuana, the report added.

Police pulled over Hagan at about 1:16 a.m. in the 3200 block of West 183rd Street because his rear registration light was out, the report stated. During the stop, the officer could smell an odor of pot coming from Hagan’s vehicle, and a background check pulled up the outstanding warrant, the report added.

A search of Hagan’s vehicle revealed two plastic bags filled with 7 grams of a green, plant material that field tested for pot, the report stated.

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.