Police Blotter: Drunken Driving and Employee Thievery

THURSDAY, MARCH 15

Carson’s Employee Seen Lifting Cash

said an employee at Carson Pirie Scott, 9700 S. Western Ave., had been observed taking cash from a cash register five times. Police arrested Tiara Hill, 21, of Blue Island at 2:29 p.m. and charged her with theft.

According to police, store security said they investigated after finding that Hill was short on her register several days. Surveillance video showed that on five different days, Hill had removed cash from a register, all totaling $243.

Cops Spot Pot on a Traffic Stop

Police said they arrested Fernando Quintero, 35, of Sterling, Ill., and charged him with possession of marijuana. According to reports, Quintero was driving a Dodge Ram with an obstructed windshield around 95th Street and Western Avenue around 7:40 p.m. Police said Quintero gave an identification card, but no proof of insurance or license. Officers smelled burnt marijuana and found that his license was suspended, reports said.

Police said they also found four joints and a plastic baggie all containing a total weight of 3.6 grams of marijuana. Quintero was charged with obstructed windshield, no insurance, suspended driver’s license and possession of marijuana.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14

Cops Arrest Man With Warrant

According to reports, at 10:02 a.m., Jonathan E. Halbert, 28, of Chicago drove westbound on 95th Street at Sawyer Avenue traveling 45 mph in a 30 mph zone. After stopping Halbert, police said that he couldn’t provide a driver’s license and the passenger in the car, who owned the car, provided her license and insurance. Police said Halbert gave false identification information. Reports said that Halbert had given his younger brother’s name and date of birth and had a valid warrant out of DeKalb County. Police charged Halbert with speeding, no valid driver’s license and obstructing identification.

TUESDAY, MARCH 13

Expired License Plates Leads Cops To Drunken Driver

Police said at 1:55 a.m., Kevin B. Venegas, 22, of Chicago was driving a silver 2004 Pontiac with expired plates northbound on Kedzie Ave. After stopping Venegas at 100th Street and Homan Avenue, police said he had slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Police said Venegas admitted to drinking, failed field sobriety tests and blew .12 on the Breathalyzer, above the legal limit. Police charged Venegas with driving under the influence, driving under the influence of alcohol with .08 or more blood alcohol content, expired registration plate sticker, improper display of sticker and no insurance. Reports said he was also cited a municipal violation for the tow of the vehicle.

MONDAY, MARCH 12

Speeding Chevy and a DUI

Evergreen Park Police said at 1:47 a.m., they saw Todd R. Soliday, 31, of Evergreen Park driving a 2008 Chevrolet northbound on Kedzie Avenue in the 9100 block, going 50 mph in a 35 mph zone.  According to reports, he didn’t stop until he reached 88th Street. Soliday had blood-shot eyes and slurred speech, police said, and admitted that he had been drinking. According to reports, Soliday failed all field sobriety tests. Police said Soliday failed to give sufficient breath to register on the Breathalyzer. Soliday was charged with speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Drunken Driver Gets Stuck

According to reports, police went to help a motorist with a vehicle stuck on a curb in a cul-de-sac in the 9600 block of Harding Ave. at 2:11 a.m. When police met with Michael P. McMahon, 23, of Homer Glen, they saw him exiting the van. “McMahon relayed that he did not drive the van, but had attempted to remove the van from the curb prior to calling 9-1-1,” police said, adding that “He also stated that he had been drinking.” According to police, the car was registered to McMahon.

McMahon failed all field sobriety tests, police said, and refused to take a Breathalyzer test. Police charged McMahon with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving upon a sidewalk area.

Police report information is provided by the  and other law enforcement agencies. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.