Outdoor Urination Epidemic Hits Oak Lawn

OAK LAWN, IL — Two men were cited in separate incidents when they were caught urinating in the public way in Oak Lawn, reports said. Both incidents resulted in citations for public indecency.

Around 4:40 p.m. Oct. 12, an off-duty Oak Lawn police officer said he observed an energy aggregation solicitor, later identified as Cephas Blair, 39, of Chicago, urinate against a fence in the 5300 block of West Oakdale Drive. The off-duty cop pointed Blair out to arriving officers, reports said.

Blair allegedly told police he was soliciting for an electrical aggregation company. He said he was near the fence, but did not urinate in public, according to the report. When told that he had been observed by an off-duty cop, Blair reportedly responded “that no cameras saw it.”

Officers issued Blair a citation for public indecency. Blair has an adjudication hearing Nov. 5 at Oak Lawn Village Hall. Police also warned Blair about soliciting without a permit in Oak Lawn.

A few days later around 11:45 p.m. Oct. 14, police watch a man, later identified as Otis Thomas, 45, of University Park, urinating in the handicap spot in the police parking lot, reports said. When confronted, Thomas allegedly told officers that he had to go to the bathroom because of numerous medical conditions.

Police said that Thomas acknowledged that he shouldn’t be urinating in public, especially the police parking lot. Thomas was cited for public indecency. He is to appear at an adjudication hearing at Oak Lawn Village Hall.