Three Teens In Stolen Cars Arrested After Chase, Crash: Blotters

LAKE FOREST — The following information comes from the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff police departments and court records 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. Updated information may be available from the Lake County Circuit Clerk of Courts. All persons named are innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ARRESTS

Gregory Banks, 47, of the 1100 block of Hadley Circle, Gurnee, was arrested at 12:24 a.m. on April 21 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or greater and cited for illegal transportation of an open container of alcohol after police investigated a car parked on the shoulder with its emergency lights. There were three people asleep inside, including the driver, Banks, and the car was left running. While speaking to him about why he was parked on the side of the road and asleep behind the wheel of a running car, officers smelled alcohol and noticed signs of impairment. Following field tests, Banks was arrested and taken to the station where he provided a breath sample indicating his blood alcohol concentration was above the legal limit.

Julie Campbell, 58, of the 300 block of Woodridge Circle, South Elgin, was arrested at 12:10 a.m. on April 21 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or greater and cited for illegal transportation of an open container of alcohol and improper lane usage following a traffic stop in the area of Route 41 and Westleigh Road. Multiple people called 911 to report the driver of a dark-colored Jeep was passing out behind the wheel and driving erratically. Officers noticed an open alcoholic beverage in the car, smelled booze and determined Campbell was impaired based on field sobriety testing and a breath sample indicating her blood alcohol concentration was above the legal limit.

Ken Sheppard, 52, of the 600 block of Bristol Court, Lake Forest, was arrested at 4:35 p.m. on April 22 and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or greater and issued citations for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and illegal transportation of an open container of alcohol following an investigation into a two-car traffic crash at the intersection of Waukegan and Deerpath roads. Sheppard, who was driving a Buick sedan that rear-ended a Jeep, told police his foot had slipped off the break. He admitted drinking multiple beers before driving and officers noticed an open bottle of whiskey in the passenger seat. Officers took him into custody following field sobriety tests and produced a breath sample indicating his blood alcohol concentration was 0.266 — more than three times the legal limit.

Elijah R. Castle, 19, of the 2200 block of East 100th Street, Chicago, and two boys were arrested around 3:30 a.m. on April 26 after police said they admitted driving two stolen cars to Lake Forest with plans to steal more cars and loot any unlocked cars found in driveways. Another unidentified car thief, last seen driving south on Route 41 at more than 100 mph, managed to escape in a stolen Ford that was found two days later in Chicago. Officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Beverly Place after getting a 911 call that people had just stolen a car from their driveway. Officers were able to box in a Lexus on a dead end street and take one of the accused thieves into custody. Another driver crashed a stolen Porsche into a tractor-trailer on Route 41, causing minor damage and no injuries. Police also found several cars in the area that appeared to have been rummaged through. Castle was charged with two counts of residential burglary and later indicted by grand jury. The other arrestees were charged as juveniles with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, possession of stolen property and fleeing and eluding. One was also charged with driving without a valid license.

Darrion M. Gonzalez, 39, of the 6100 block of Grand Avenue, Gurnee, was arrested at 2:17 a.m. on May 4 and charged with driving under the influence, driving while license revoked and possession of cannabis following a traffic stop on Route 41. A motorist had called 911 to report a Jaguar weaving through traffic and hitting some construction barrels. Officers noticed the vehicle and noticed it slow down to 25 mph in a 45 mph zone. After pulling it over, officers reported Gonzalez had a revoked license, smelled of alcohol and admitted having several drinks before driving. Officers determined he was impaired and took him into custody.

Theopolis O. Owens, 28, of the 7200 block of South Cornell Avenue, Chicago, and Thomas Z. Denton, 24, of the 700 block of North Linden Avenue, were arrested around 1:15 p.m. on May 7 by officers dispatched to a report of a shoplifting that had just occurred at the Jewel-Osco, 892 Western Ave. Denton, who officers reported finding crouched between cars in the parking lot, was charged with retail theft. Staff at the grocery store said Denton stole two bottles of tequila, a bottle of champagne and a bottle of sparkling water, and officers suspected more items found in the car were also stolen. Owens was charged with felony driving with a suspended license. In 2017, Owens was sentenced to five years in prison on theft charges and found not guilty of residential burglary in a jury trial, but he is appealing the case.

Earlier: Cops Witness Drunk Woman Drive Into Wires, Onto Sidewalk: Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Blotter, March 14–April 14

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