Driver charged with fake ID, drug paraphernalia
Melissa D. Whitton, 48, of Oak Lawn, was charged with possession of a fraudulent identification card following a traffic stop at 4:07 a.m. June 1, at 96th Street and 54th Avenue. Police said she had a driver’s license with her photo but someone else’s information.
She was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia when two crack pipes were found in the car, as well as driving without a valid license and driving without headlights.
Two arrested on DUI charges
Oscar Godinez-Ochoa, 35, of Chicago, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a traffic stop at 4:22 a.m. May 31, in the 9500 block of South Ridgeland Avenue. Police said he was asleep and registered 0.184 blood-alcohol content on a breath test, more than twice the legal limit.
He was also cited for stopping in traffic and driving without insurance. His court date is July 15.
Jerome T. Murphy, 37, of Palos Heights, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a two-vehicle crash at 1:14 a.m. at 111th Street and South Cicero Avenue. Police said he failed field sobriety tests and refused to submit a breath sample.
Murphy was also charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and driving without insurance. He is due in court June 29.
Man charged with aggravated assault
Standel Z. Bobo, 23, of Oak Lawn, was charged with aggravated assault, battery, and obstructing identification following a disturbance at a Kenneth Avenue home at 5:35 p.m. June 3. Police said he physically assaulted a woman and threatened her with two knives.
Police said Bobo initially provided a false name. Surveillance cameras showed he was the aggressor, not the victim as he claimed. He is due in court June 26.
Driver charged after crash
Jehad D. Erekat, 38, of Palos Heights, was charged with driving with a suspended license following a traffic crash at 3:25 p.m. June 4, in the 9500 block of South Central Avenue. She was also charged with unlawful use of a driver’s license and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
Erekat was cited for improper overtaking on the right, improper lane usage, and failure to display valid registration. She is due in court June 30.
Two charged in cemetery disturbances
Two men involved in reckless driving near St. Casimir Cemetery on May 29 face multiple charges. Police found several cars driving in circles and street racing in front of the cemetery at 111th Street and Pulaski Road prior to a funeral procession.
David Barrientos, 20, of Des Plaines, was arrested at 11:22 a.m., and Giovanni E. Duran, 19, of Chicago, was arrested at 1:26 p.m. after their vehicles were identified on surveillance cameras.
Both men were cited for squealing tires, improper lane usage, improper U-turns, impeding traffic, and improper overtaking. Barrientos was also charged with possession of illegal cannabis. Duran was charged with driving without insurance or a front license plate, failure to display a driver’s license, and having an overly tinted windshield.
Barrientos is due in court June 30. Duran has a court date July 8.
Motorcyclist charged with DUI after crash, flight from scene
Brian M. Mezewich, 41, of Orland Park, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a motorcycle crash at 4:34 p.m. May 27, at 95th Street and Central Avenue.
Police said Mezewich left two bookbags at the scene and fled on foot. Officers found him in a nearby alley and transported him to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where he was treated for a wrist injury.
A blood test showed his blood-alcohol content at 0.17, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.
Mezewich was also charged with leaving the scene of an accident and cited for driving without insurance and disregarding a traffic-control device. He is due in court July 22.
Retail theft suspect arrested after traffic stop in Evergreen Park
Julius A. Carmichael, 38, of Chicago, was charged with felony retail theft at Target, 4120 W. 95th St., at 7:55 p.m. May 31.
Police said Carmichael took underwear and a belt worth $95 and drove away before officers arrived. He was arrested soon afterward in the 8700 block of South Albany Avenue in Evergreen Park.
The theft charge was elevated to a felony due to a prior conviction for larceny.
Carmichael was also charged with felony possession of a controlled substance for a tablet found in his pocket. He was wanted on an outstanding warrant for failure to comply with sex offender registration in Kentucky. Court information was not available.
Passenger charged with obstruction during DUI arrest
Jacqueline R. Ramirez, 39, of Chicago, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a traffic stop at Oak Center Drive and Cicero Avenue.
Her passenger, Adan U. Villagomez, 40, of Oak Forest, was charged with obstruction of a police officer for interfering during the arrest.
Police said that while Ramirez performed field sobriety tests, Villagomez repeatedly interrupted, telling her not to comply. After he told her not to submit a breath sample, she refused.
Ramirez was also cited for following too closely, improper lane usage, and driving while performing illegal activities. Both are due in court June 30.
Woman charged with aggravated assault, retail theft at Home Depot
Gianna K. Owens, 30, of Elgin, was charged with felony retail theft at Home Depot, 4060 W. 95th St., at 10:56 a.m. May 30.
Police said Owens left the store with a cart of merchandise worth $587 and ran off with three jars of copper material worth more than $200.
She was also charged with aggravated assault for allegedly threatening to stab an arresting officer with his own trauma shears, which she took during a struggle when he apprehended her in the 9100 block of South Pulaski Road.
Owens was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia for a crack cocaine pipe she was carrying. She was held for a bond hearing.
Failure to stop at sign leads to DUI charge
Angela E. Matejka, 30, of Oak Lawn, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a traffic stop at 2:13 a.m. May 28, in the 10200 block of South Ridgeland Avenue.
Police said she failed field sobriety tests and refused to submit a breath sample.
She was also cited for failure to obey a stop sign, improper lane usage, and not having proof of insurance. She is due in court June 29.
Repeat offender arrested for felony theft at Walgreens
Dale R. Kinzie, 66, of Burbank, was charged with felony retail theft and possession of a controlled substance following his arrest at Walgreens, 4740 W. 95th St., at 9:04 a.m. June 1.
Police said Kinzie was carrying beer, cheese, and other items taken from the store when they found him boarding a bus just west of Cicero Avenue on 95th Street. He was also carrying four hydrocodone pills.
The theft charge was elevated to a felony due to a long history of local thefts, including more than 30 prior convictions. He was taken into custody to await a bond hearing.
Police report information is provided by law enforcement agencies. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken. Persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proved guilty in a court of law.