Editor's note: The crime news reported by the Southwest Chicago Post---taken directly from Chicago Police Department incident reports---is not by any means an exhaustive catalogue of all crime reported in the Chicago Lawn (8th) District. For example, it typically does not include news of crimes committed in the eastern sectors of the district---because the Southwest Chicago Post's coverage area is primarily the neighborhoods that border Midway Airport and secondarily because including the relatively large volume of crime news from elsewhere in the district would be a logistical challenge. We make this note to offer a little helpful perspective and remind everyone that while crime is definitely a concern in all parts of the district (as it always has been), crime remains relatively low overall in the western section of the district. May all of us work together diligently to keep it that way. May all of us also remember that a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Bust 4 at reputed crime house
Four people were charged with criminal trespass to a residence after they were arrested at a vacant residential unit at 4434 S. Lavergne at 9:10 a.m. Saturday, November 1.
Cedric Jordan, 34, of the 400 block of North St. Louis; Lisa Valarezo, 44, of the 5400 block of West Division; Michael A. Ellis, 54, of suburban Willowbrook; and Randy J. Sommerville, 48, of Kalamazoo, Mich. were all apprehended without incident.
A CPD spokesman said the vacant unit is a known base for prostitution and narcotics sales.
According to public records, Jordan has been arrested six times in recent years by CPD—all on drug-related charges in the Hearst area, including once in 2018 for possessing a large quantity of heroin. Valarezo has been arrested five times by CPD since 2022, all on drug- and trespassing-related charges.
He slapped me, woman tells police
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| Estrada |
A 34-year-old Garfield Ridge man was charged with domestic battery after he was arrested at his home in the 5400 block of South New England at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2.
Vicente Estrada allegedly slapped the face of a 29-year-old woman during an argument, a CPD spokesman said.
Claim man took beer from Walgreens
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| Marquez |
A 40-year-old Clearing man was charged with retail theft after he was arrested on the street in front of 6251 S. Mason at 10:05 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2.
Francisco J. Marquez, of the 6200 block of South Menard, allegedly stole a case of beer from a store in the area, a CPD spokesman said, declining to name the business. A source in the neighborhood said it was the Walgreens at 63rd and Austin.
Claim man made threat with gun
A 22-year-old Englewood man was charged with aggravated assault after he was arrested at 4246 W. 63rd St. at 2:52 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7.
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| Alexander |
Johntile Edward Alexander, of the 5500 block of South Throop, was apprehended by officers responding to a “man with a gun” call. He allegedly used a handgun to threaten an employee inside the building, home to Centurion Security. A source in the neighborhood said Alexander is a former Centurion employee.
Some in West Lawn may recall that the building was the site of a fatal arson fire in the early morning hours of January 2012, which killed 60-year-old James “Jimmy” Maca, who lived alone in the building’s front apartment on the second floor. The target of the arsonist, a woman (Blanca Ortiz) who stayed in the rear apartment on weekends, was not home at the time of the blaze.
Police investigated and two months later arrested 38-year-old Juan Adame (aka Jaime Garcia), of suburban Cicero. Adame was recently jilted by Ortiz, who broke off their relationship and said she was leaving for Mexico. Adame, prosecuted in federal court, was in 2015 sentenced to 40 years in federal prison.
Charge man with threatening Uber driver
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| Manasreh |
A 33-year-old man from suburban Orland Park was charged with aggravated assault after he was arrested on the street in front of 5353 S. Archer at 7:47 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5.
Muhnad J. Manasreh, of the 15100 block of South Orlan Brook Drive, allegedly used a gun to threaten an Uber driver (a 40-year-old man) during a dispute, a CPD spokesman said.
Say man made threat at Hurley
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| Fitz |
A 48-year-old Pilsen man was charged with aggravated assault after he was arrested at Hurley School, 3849 W. 69th Place, at 3:59 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18.
Lugardo Fitz, of the 1800 block of South Allport, allegedly threatened to hit a school employee (a 33-year-old man) during an argument.
Bust Brighton Park man on theft rap
A 25-year-old Brighton Park man was charged with retail theft after he was arrested in front of 3900 S. Kedzie at 7:38 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13.
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| Costello |
Sonny Costello, of the 3500 block of West Pershing, allegedly stole merchandise from a store in the 2700 block of North Milwaukee. A CPD spokesman said police (including a CPD helicopter) tracked Costello’s vehicle to the point of arrest.
According to public records, Costello has been arrested four times by CPD since 2019, on charges that included drinking on the public way and being a fugitive from justice (wanted on an out-of-state warrant).
Say passenger was drunk at MDW
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| Rivera |
A 37-year-old man from Mayfield, Delaware was charged with criminal trespass to state land after he was arrested at Midway International Airport at 5:56 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19.
David E. Rivera allegedly tried to board a passenger jet while intoxicated. He was arrested after he refused orders to leave the premises, a CPD spokesman said.
Bust Burbank woman at 7-Eleven
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| Aguirre |
A 59-year-old woman from suburban Burbank was charged with DUI and two counts of negligent driving after she was arrested in the parking lot of the 7-Eleven at Archer and Central, at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3.
Sylvia Aguirre, of the 7800 block of South Meade, allegedly crashed her vehicle into two other vehicles in the lot, a CPD spokesman said.
Claim man pushed elderly man
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| Kamin |
A 34-year-old Clearing man was charged with domestic battery after he was arrested at his home in the 6000 block of South Rutherford at 12:15 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7.
Nathan Gerald Kamin allegedly pushed a 65-year-old man down a set of stairs during an argument, a CPD spokesman said.
Charge man with drunk driving
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| Orajel |
A 30-year-old Back of the Yards man was charged with DUI, driving without insurance and failure to stay in his lane, after he was arrested in front of 4554 W. 63rd St. at 4:01 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 20.
Andres Orajel, of the 2100 block of West 49th Place, was apprehended without incident.
Busted again for driving on revoked license
A 40-year-old Scottsdale man was charged with driving of a revoked license after he was arrested in front of 4510 S. Lawler at 10:14 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2.
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| Guzman |
Roberto Guzman, of the 7900 block of South Kostner, also was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia when police found a crack pipe in his vehicle, a CPD spokesman said.
According to public records, Guzman has been arrested five times by CPD since 2017, each time charged with driving on a suspended or revoked license.
Bust tow truck driver on ‘soliciting business’ rap
A 44-year-old tow truck driver from suburban Bolingbrook was charged with illegally soliciting towing business and illegal possession of a police scanner, after he was arrested in front of 4515 W. 47th St. at 8:42 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 6.
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| Saldana |
David Saldana Jr. allegedly arrived at the scene of a crash and offered towing services to one of the drivers, a CPD spokesman said.
According to public records, Saldana has been arrested five times by CPD since 2015, on charges that included assault, aggravated assault and violating parole by having contact with street gang members.
Say woman stole from JC Penney
A 35-year-old Englewood woman was charged with retail theft after she was arrested at Ford City at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21.
Lachrisha L. Grisby, of the 1400 block of West Marquette Road, was spotted by a store’s security staff and detained for police.
Via surveillance footage, Grisby was identified as a woman who stole merchandise from the store on Oct. 21 and Nov. 8, according to a CPD spokesman, who declined to identify the store. A source in the neighborhood said it was JC Penney.
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| Grisby |
Via surveillance footage, Grisby was identified as a woman who stole merchandise from the store on Oct. 21 and Nov. 8, according to a CPD spokesman, who declined to identify the store. A source in the neighborhood said it was JC Penney.
According to public records, Grisby has been arrested six times by CPD since 2014 on such charges as theft, retail theft and assault of a state employee.
Arrested again on retail theft charge
A 27-year-old Pilsen man was charged with retail theft after he was arrested in the alley behind 5300 S. Kedzie at 10:25 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 9.
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| Johnson |
Terry Johnson, of the 2600 block of West 21st Place, allegedly stole merchandise from the Walgreens at 55th and Kedzie a short time before his apprehension, a CPD spokesman said.
According to public records, Johnson has been arrested 11 times by CPD since 2015 on such charges as theft or retail theft (seven times), battery, criminal trespass to property and failure to appear in court.
Driver charged with pot violation
A 45-year-old man from suburban Calumet City was charged with illegal possession of cannabis after he was arrested during a traffic stop in front of 6935 W. Archer at 3:48 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11.
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| Cornelius |
Jonathan F. Cornelius, of the 1100 block of Pulaski Road, reportedly had at least one rolled joint with him in his vehicle. (While legal in Illinois, state law restricts how cannabis may and may not be transported in a vehicle.) Cornelius also was charged with failure to display current license plates.
Traffic stop ends in arrest
A 21-year-old Englewood man was charged with a cannabis-related violation of the law after he was arrested during a traffic stop in front of 3837 W. Marquette Road at 4:07 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20.
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| Austin |
Sean E. Austin, of the 5900 block of South Ada, was apprehended after police pulled him over for excessive cracked glass, as well as a broken headlight.
According to public records, Austin has been arrested three times by CPD since 2017 on such charges as theft and criminal trespass to a vehicle.
Arrest pair on prostitution-related claim
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| Rodriguez |
A 60-year-old Vittum Park man was charged with solicitation of a sexual act after he was arrested near 46th and Leclaire at 5:59 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 20.
Alfredo Rodriguez, of the 4700 block of South Laporte, allegedly offered cash to a 29-year-old woman, a CPD spokesman said.
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| Santana |
The woman, Paige K. Santana, of the 4600 block of South Leclaire, was charged with prostitution.
According to public records, Santana has been arrested 16 times by CPD since 2016 on charges that included possession of a controlled substance, criminal trespass to a vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle and obstruction of traffic by a non-motorist.
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