Crime & Safety

Joint in the Front Seat, Kid in the Backseat: Weird Crimes

Chicago Heights man makes speedy confession • Price for cigarettes now includes a felony charge for an alleged burglar • A trail of leaking fluid directs cops to driver's home ... This week's roundup of weird crime news in the Southland.

Written by Patch Editor Nick Swedberg

Quite The Announcement


July 5: Police prefer it when criminals just announce what they did wrong. 

A man who cops had just witnessed make a drug deal on 14th Street said he "bought that rock" before officers could cuff him, police said.

David Bivens, 43, of the 1700 block of East End, Chicago Heights, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, police said.

A Chicago Heights officer was patrolling the area at around 1:32 p.m. near 14th Street and Center Avenue when he saw two men make a hand-to-hand deal at the bus stop, according to police. When cops approached, the man with the drugs tossed them into the street.

Before officers could arrest Bivens, he nodded toward the other man and said "I bought that rock you picked up from him," police said. He was booked at the Chicago Heights Police Department and locked in a holding cell.

The 0.1 grams of a rock-like substance police recovered inside a clear plastic bag tested positive for cocaine. It was sent to the Illinois State Police crime lab for more testing.

Read more on Chicago Heights Patch

Man of the Year?


July 18: A man who had a burning joint in the passenger seat and a kid in the backseat is accused of endangering the life of a child.

Antonio McMichales, 26, of the 1100 block of Park Lane, Ford Heights, is charged with driving under the influence of drugs, endangering the life and health of a child, possession of marijuana and driving without insurance, police said.

An officer stopped McMichales at about 3:51 p.m. near 75th Street and Halsted Street after it was found he did not have a valid license, police said. 

McMichales, who smelled like burnt marijuana, had what appeared to be weed on his lap, police said. He brushed it off when police asked for his driver's license and insurance. That's when police also noticed a lit marijuana cigarette in the passenger seat area and a child was sitting in the back.

Police said McMichales moved and spoke slowly. He denied smoking marijuana and was asked to perform tests for intoxication The tests showed him to be under the influence, police said. He was arrested and booked.

The child was turned over to the mother at the Homewood Police Department, police said. 

McMichales is due on Aug. 29 in Markham court.

Read more on Homewood-Flossmoor Patch

High Price for Cigarettes, Even For Cook County 


July 17: A Palos Hills man who police say snatched at least six packs of cigs from a convenience store was hit with a felony.

Cory Brown, 20, faces one count of felony burglary, police said. He is accused of participating in a burglary at Open Pantry Store, 8600 W. 103rd St.

A Palos Hills cop on patrol near the quick-stop store noticed at about 4:50 a.m. that the front door was damaged, police said. A brick had been thrown through the window.

The manager was called to the store and found that packs of cigarettes were missing, police said.

Security cameras recorded the brick break-in and provided police with a full description of the suspect, police said.

Later that day, Brown admitted to the burglary and returned the cigarettes when he was questioned, police said. He was taken into custody and appeared before a Cook County judge on July 18.

Read more on Palos Patch

Not Exactly a Trail of Breadcrumbs, But ...


A trail of fluid leaking from a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run crash led police to an arrest.

Jonathan F. Paska, 27, of the 8800 block of Carnoustie Drive, Orland Park, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, DUI with a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.08, failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash and leaving the scene of a crash, according to a report.

Police were called at about 10:07 p.m. on July 9 to investigate a hit-and-run crash on Merion Drive, the report states. Police found a smashed up car and a piece of a silver bumper belonging to another car that left the scene. Officers followed a trail of fluids that led to an area where a silver SUV was parked. It reportedly had front-end damage.

Officers spoke with the driver, Paska, inside his home, according to the report. Cops also matched the bumper with the SUV. Paska was asked to perform tests for sobriety, which he allegedly failed. After booking, he was given an Aug. 15 court date in Bridgeview.

Read more on Orland Park Patch


Are you a fan of true crime? Like the Crime-n-Shame Facebook page for tales of mischief and woe from all over the Chicago area.

Police report information is provided by local police departments. 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.

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