Resident Finds Intruder Asleep In Bed: Lake Forest Crime Reports

LAKE FOREST, IL — The following information comes from the Lake Forest Police Department as a record of those arrested by police. Readers are reminded that an arrest is not an indication of guilt and criminal charges, which represent merely accusations by the state, are often dropped or reduced. All persons named are innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

INCIDENTS

CAR BURGLARY

On Oct. 18 at 10:17 a.m., a car burglary was reported on the 1000 block of Fairview Road. After speaking with the homeowner, police determined that someone entered an unlocked car and stole a GPS unit during the overnight hours the previous night. Police have no suspects in the case, but on the same night, Lake Bluff police reported 11 car burglaries and a stolen vehicle.

STOLEN CAR

On Oct. 24 at 4 p.m. a resident of the 100 block of North Sheridan road reported someone stole a 2009 Audi sedan from a driveway during the previous overnight hours. Police said the car had been left unlocked and its keys were inside an unlocked vehicle parked right next to it.

HOMICIDE

On Oct. 29, Police were called to the scene of a fatal shooting in the 1300 block of West Estate Lane East around 12:05 a.m. They found multiple people fleeing a large house party that had been organized on Facebook and one man, later identified as Shaft D. Wilson, Jr., dead from an apparent gunshot wound outside the home. A preliminary investigation determined that someone pulled out a gun during an argument between several partygoers. The case is currently being investigated by the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force and Lake Forest detectives. No one was in custody as of Nov. 2.

MORE: Teen Fatally Shot At Lake Forest Halloween Party

ARRESTS/CITATIONS

Roman J. Koperski, 70, of the 1100 block of Ridge Road, Lake Forest, was arrested Oct. 15 at 5:45 p.m. at the intersection of Old Elm Road and Highland Avenue and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Police said they were called to the scene of a vehicle stopped in traffic with the driver passed out and the engine running. Fire personnel arrived and helped Koperski out of the vehicle and police smelled the "strong odor of alcohol coming from" him. He was taken to hospital for treatment and charged after follow-up conversations with officers, police said.

A 22-year-old Highwood man was cited for possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia in the 500 block of North Sheridan Road on Ot. 16 at 1:59 a.m. Police and fire were called to Lake Forest College after campus security noticed a student sleeping in a vehicle and were unable to wake him. Police said officers on the scene were able to wake the student. When they did, they saw a bag of cannabis in the center console and the man admitted to having a smoking pipe in his pocket.

A 39-year-old Evanston man was arrested Oct 16 at 4:55 p.m. and charged with driving on a suspended license and driving without proof of insurance after police responded to a report of a two-car accident at the intersection of Waukegan and Westmoreland roads. After a police investigation, he was arrested and also issued a citation for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Jose L. Castorela, 30, of the 1600 block of Lincoln Street, North Chicago, was arrested on Oct. 19 at 2:30 a.m. near the intersection of Western and Vine avenues after a traffic stop. Police said they pulled him over in a black Honda sedan for an equipment violation. After speaking with him, they determined he was driving without a valid license and admitted drinking "several beers at the Cubs game." Police said they conducted several field sobriety tests and determined he was intoxicated. Castorela was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after police said he provided a breath sample of 0.203 at the station. They also found two 25-ounce cans of beer – one of which was empty and one of which was still three-quarters-full – and he was also charged with illegal transportation of alcohol. He was also charged with no valid license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

Virgil G. Trice, 52, of the 6500 block of South Wood Street, Chicago, was arrested on Oct. 19 at 7:53 p.m. after a resident in the 400 block of Waukegan Road called police to report him sleeping in their bed. Police said Trice left the home after being confronted, but they were able to find him in the area. Trice reportedly told police he "thought the house was abandoned when he entered it through an unlocked front door." He was taken into custody and charged with criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct.

On Oct. 21 at 11:40 p.m., six teens were cited for consuming alcohol after police were called to Lake Forest College and the surrounding area for several reports of "incidents involving intoxicated college students/minors." Those cited, including four Skokie residents, one Addison woman and one Chicago man, were between the ages of 18 and 19 and included two women and four men.

Steven J. Kohler, 23, of the 2100 block of Witchwood Lane, Lindenhurst, was arrested Oct. 24 at 7:38 p.m. near Route 60 and Field Court after police were called to a report of a driver fleeing a traffic crash. Police said they were told a black GMC SUV had fled the scene of a crash on Route 60 and later pulled over a vehicle matching its description on Waukegan Road just south of Route 60. Police said they determined Kohler may have been drinking after speaking with him. They said they asked him to submit to a field sobriety test and later arrested him and charged him with driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal transporation of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident.

Lynette M. Block, 66, of the 1100 block of North Green Bay Road, Lake Forest, was issued a citation for theft on Oct. 27 at 9:23 a.m. after police were told someone had been stealing items from an estate sale in the 1000 block of Lake Road. When officers arrived, a witness identified Block as the thief and police said they found stolen items in her pockets and purse.

Gregory R. Kayser, 54, of the 500 block of Oakwood Lane, Lake Forest, was arrested Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at his home and charged with domestic battery. Police said they were called to the home by a woman who said that her son had struck her several times in the face. After police noted her injuries, they arrested Kayser, and Lake County prosecutors later approved a domestic battery charge.

Two weeks ago: 2 Motorists Arrested Friday On Route 41, 1 Speeding, 1 Without Lights: Lake Forest Police Blotter, Oct. 13 - Oct. 19

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