Oak Lawn Man Accused Of Waving Knife At People

OAK LAWN, IL — An Oak Lawn man is accused of scaring people by waving a long knife at them on their way to Starbucks, reports said. Peter Arestis, 32, was charged with aggravated battery.

Around 12:20 p.m., Aug. 17, Oak Lawn police officers went to the area of 95th Street and 52nd Avenue after receiving a call of a man with a knife. A woman told police she was walking to Starbucks by the Metra station when she encountered a man, later identified as Arestis, standing in the alley.

As the woman walked past Arestis, police said he turned toward her and pulled a long knife out of a blue sheath. Police allege Arestis pointed the knife at the woman and took a step toward her while mumbling something. The woman turned around and ran back to her office.

Police said the woman was afraid of being stabbed and did not see where Arestis went after their encounter. A witness sitting outside did not see the incident, but had earlier seen Arestis waving the knife, according to police.

A man matching Arestis’s description was seen running east in the 4700 block of 94th Street, police said. Officers went to the man's condominium on an unspecified block on 93rd Street. Arestis stepped into the hallway, when officers said they noticed a long knife in a blue sheath tucked into his waistband.

Police said the woman identified Arestis as the man who had waved a knife at her. He was placed under arrest and charged with aggravated battery.

Arestis is due in court Oct. 5 in Bridgeview.