Last suspect in Oak Lawn home invasion arrested in Texas
By Joe Boyle
A police chase in Houston that occurred on Feb. 6 resulted in the arrest of the last suspect of an Oak Lawn home invasion that took place last year.
Working with the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force, Houston police and Texas State Troopers located suspect Anthony Mitchell, 31, of Chicago, who is linked to the 2022 home invasion that took place in the 10500 block of South Kenton Avenue.
During that incident, a 71-year-old woman was the victim of a violent encounter when three men forcefully entered her home. One of the men was armed with a handgun, according to Oak Lawn police.
Houston police and the troopers attempted to arrest Mitchell for the home invasion. However, according to police, Mitchell took off in a car and later crashed after a 40-minute pursuit through Houston.
Mitchell was eventually taken into custody and is awaiting a hearing on local charges and extradition back to Illinois.
The FBI Task Force on Jan. 5 had arrested another suspect, Chicago resident Gregory Smith, 31, at his apartment in the city. Smith was charged with the home invasion and 23 additional felonies, including unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and being a habitual armed offender.
Oak Lawn police officials said they have been working consistently on the case since the home invasion occurred, and they made their first arrest (a 15-year-old juvenile) within weeks of the crime.
Assisting Oak Lawn in the early stages were the Evergreen Park and Midlothian police, the Illinois State Police’s Crime Lab, and the Chicago Police Department.
Investigators conducted dozens of interviews, executed more than 10 search warrants, and utilized multiple modern technologies to gather the evidence needed to make the arrests.
“Our village board and administration are in lock-step when it comes to crimes committed in Oak Lawn, especially violent crime,” said Oak Lawn Mayor Terry Vorderer, a former member of the Oak Lawn Police Department for over 30 years. “We will spare no expense to bring perpetrators to justice.”
Vorderer cited the Oak Lawn’s recent installation of the Flock Security Camera system throughout the village that has led to multiple arrests.
Trustee Ralph Soch (6th), who lives in the area where the home invasion occurred, praised the work done by the Oak Lawn police.
“I said it before, but it bears repeating,” Soch said. “This kind of incident literally hits home for every Oak Lawn resident and business, and the Oak Lawn Police Department is almost without peer when it comes to sending a message to would-be criminals: If you commit crimes in Oak Lawn, you will be brought to justice.”
Local News
Basketball 2024-25: The Southwest Regional Publishing X/Twitter previews
Editor’s note: Coaches in the Southwest Regional Publishing coverage area are encouraged to submit preseason information by email to: mikeclarkpreps@gmail.com. Boys Acero-Soto: Wolf Pack looking to take step forward after 1-win season. Top 2 scorers return in senior Gs Cruz Lopez, Tony Macias. Also expected to contribute: G Favio Hernandez, C Alexander Bahena, PG Enrique…
Jack Elliott, Mount Carmel race into Class 7A quarterfinals
Jack Elliott is running again, and that spells trouble for the rest of Class 7A. Elliott, Mount Carmel’s senior quarterback and a Vanderbilt commit, missed time with an injury in the regular season. He was limited to passing when he returned. But in the Caravan’s 48-15 win against visiting St. Charles North on Nov. 9,…
Travis Stamm’s big night helps unbeaten Lyons roll
Travis Stamm of Lyons was noticeable in the first half Nov. 8, grabbing a pair of touchdown passes, but the savvy senior noticed something that the average fan likely did not. The Lions, in his estimation, were flat, even leading Downers Grove South by a pair of touchdowns. So, like a good captain, he took…
Loyola rallies to end Marist’s season in Class 8A second round
The deeper you go in the playoffs, the smaller the margin of error becomes. Marist found out how small Nov. 9 on their cozy home field. The RedHawks made only a handful of mistakes in the course of 48 minutes in their Class 8A second-round game against Loyola, but those miscues cost them dearly. The…
Steven Armbruster sets TD record as St. Rita advances
What stands out about St. Rita quarterback Steven Armbruster to Mustangs coach Martin Hopkins? “Steven works hard,” Hopkins said. “And he prepares very hard. When you work hard like he does in practice, the more comfortable you are on game day and that makes things easier for us. “Steven puts the team in good positions…
IHSA football playoffs: Second-round results, quarterfinal pairings
With seedings and records in parentheses. Class 7A and Class 8A are seeded 1-32, while the other six classes are seeded in two 1-16 brackets. Second round Class 8A Loyola 24, Marist 20 Lyons 63, Downers Grove South 20 Class 7A St. Rita 21, Willowbrook 9 Mount Carmel 48. St. Charles North 15 Class 6A,…
Richards returns to state quarterfinals for first time since 2019
Three snaps. That’s how long it took Richards running back Myles Mitchell to have a positive impact in a 42-14 victory over downstate Washington on Nov. 8 in the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs in Oak Lawn. On the third play from scrimmage, Mitchell took the handoff from quarterback Noah Escobedo, got…
Fired-up Nazareth rolls into Class 5A quarterfinals
Tim Racki knows well what it takes to win a state championship. After all, he has guided Nazareth to the last two state titles in Class 5A and five overall since 2014. Racki has nine total titles, counting the four he won at Driscoll. So while the Roadrunners shut out Payton in the opening round…
Mike Walsh’s Football Top 10, Week 12
1. LYONS (11-0) Last week: 8A, Beat Downers Grove South 63-20 This week: vs. Naperville Central, 7 p.m. Friday Comment: Two playoff games with 101 total points for the thriving Lions. 2. ST. RITA (9-2) Last week: 7A, Beat Willowbrook 21-9 This week: vs. Quincy, 3 p.m. Saturday Comment: Quarterback Steven Armbruster has a program-record…
St. Laurence reaches Class 4A quarterfinals, but wants more
Making the state quarterfinals is a nice accomplishment. But after finishing second in the state in Class 4A last season, St. Laurence wants more. The Vikings took another step in the process on Nov. 9 as they defeated Wheaton Academy 26-14 in a Class 4A second-round game in Burbank. Next for St. Laurence (8-3) is…
Neighbors
Basketball 2024-25: The Southwest Regional Publishing X/Twitter previews
Editor’s note: Coaches in the Southwest Regional Publishing coverage area are encouraged to submit preseason information by email to: mikeclarkpreps@gmail.com. Boys Acero-Soto: Wolf Pack looking to take step forward after 1-win season. Top 2 scorers return in senior Gs Cruz Lopez, Tony Macias. Also expected to contribute: G Favio Hernandez, C Alexander Bahena, PG Enrique…
Jack Elliott, Mount Carmel race into Class 7A quarterfinals
Jack Elliott is running again, and that spells trouble for the rest of Class 7A. Elliott, Mount Carmel’s senior quarterback and a Vanderbilt commit, missed time with an injury in the regular season. He was limited to passing when he returned. But in the Caravan’s 48-15 win against visiting St. Charles North on Nov. 9,…
Travis Stamm’s big night helps unbeaten Lyons roll
Travis Stamm of Lyons was noticeable in the first half Nov. 8, grabbing a pair of touchdown passes, but the savvy senior noticed something that the average fan likely did not. The Lions, in his estimation, were flat, even leading Downers Grove South by a pair of touchdowns. So, like a good captain, he took…
Loyola rallies to end Marist’s season in Class 8A second round
The deeper you go in the playoffs, the smaller the margin of error becomes. Marist found out how small Nov. 9 on their cozy home field. The RedHawks made only a handful of mistakes in the course of 48 minutes in their Class 8A second-round game against Loyola, but those miscues cost them dearly. The…
Steven Armbruster sets TD record as St. Rita advances
What stands out about St. Rita quarterback Steven Armbruster to Mustangs coach Martin Hopkins? “Steven works hard,” Hopkins said. “And he prepares very hard. When you work hard like he does in practice, the more comfortable you are on game day and that makes things easier for us. “Steven puts the team in good positions…
IHSA football playoffs: Second-round results, quarterfinal pairings
With seedings and records in parentheses. Class 7A and Class 8A are seeded 1-32, while the other six classes are seeded in two 1-16 brackets. Second round Class 8A Loyola 24, Marist 20 Lyons 63, Downers Grove South 20 Class 7A St. Rita 21, Willowbrook 9 Mount Carmel 48. St. Charles North 15 Class 6A,…
Richards returns to state quarterfinals for first time since 2019
Three snaps. That’s how long it took Richards running back Myles Mitchell to have a positive impact in a 42-14 victory over downstate Washington on Nov. 8 in the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs in Oak Lawn. On the third play from scrimmage, Mitchell took the handoff from quarterback Noah Escobedo, got…
Fired-up Nazareth rolls into Class 5A quarterfinals
Tim Racki knows well what it takes to win a state championship. After all, he has guided Nazareth to the last two state titles in Class 5A and five overall since 2014. Racki has nine total titles, counting the four he won at Driscoll. So while the Roadrunners shut out Payton in the opening round…
Mike Walsh’s Football Top 10, Week 12
1. LYONS (11-0) Last week: 8A, Beat Downers Grove South 63-20 This week: vs. Naperville Central, 7 p.m. Friday Comment: Two playoff games with 101 total points for the thriving Lions. 2. ST. RITA (9-2) Last week: 7A, Beat Willowbrook 21-9 This week: vs. Quincy, 3 p.m. Saturday Comment: Quarterback Steven Armbruster has a program-record…
St. Laurence reaches Class 4A quarterfinals, but wants more
Making the state quarterfinals is a nice accomplishment. But after finishing second in the state in Class 4A last season, St. Laurence wants more. The Vikings took another step in the process on Nov. 9 as they defeated Wheaton Academy 26-14 in a Class 4A second-round game in Burbank. Next for St. Laurence (8-3) is…