Police Blotter: Jeans and Pallet Swiping, No-Light U-Turns

Editor's Note: One or more names in this report have been redacted in light of additional documentation provided regarding this case.

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Ditch Driving

Christopher C. Korycki, 29, of the 500 block of Kingsbury Drive in Chicago, was charged with driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol level greater than .08 and improper lane use. Police said they were called about a vehicle stuck in a ditch in the 8800 block of 135th Street around 2:40 a.m. Police said the driver’s breath smelled like alcohol and he failed field sobriety tests.

Pallet Swipe

Police said a pickup truck was seen with an orange fruit box in the rear area while it was driving south in the 15100 block of Ravinia Avenue around 10:15 a.m. The box looked similar to those used by Trader Joe’s and the officer talked with the two men in the truck when it stopped at a nearby alley, according to the report. Several wooden pallets were seen in the truck’s rear under the fruit box, along with a moving blanket, police said. James R. Jarema, 46, of the 12900 block of Sycamore Drive in Palos Heights, told the officer that he and Timothy M. Jarema, 41, of the 12900 block of Sycamore Drive in Palos Heights, were given permission by a staff member at Trader Joe’s to take the items and they had done so for years. Staff at the store said they didn’t give anyone permission to take the pallets or the moving blanket, since they are returned for a deposit, according to the report. Both men were charged with theft.

Jeans Houdini

Police said they were called about a retail theft at Macy’s around 2:45 p.m. A man took two pairs of jeans into the dressing room and left without them, according to the report. Store security stopped him and found he was wearing both pairs of jeans, worth $100 together, under his pants, police said. Derrick R. Bryant, 18, of the 13900 block of Reeves Road in Robbins, was charged with retail theft.

Full Bags

Brittany S. Phillips, 21, of the 6900 block of South Aberdeen in Chicago, was charged with retail theft and obstructing a police officer. Police said they were called about a retail theft at the Fashion Hut kiosk at Orland Square mall around 8 p.m. A kiosk worker told police that two women and Phillips were trying on purses, when Phillips took one and walked away from the kiosk without paying, according to the report. When Phillips was later found, the purse from Fashion Hut was filled with merchandise from other stores in the mall, and another purse and a shopping bag also were found on her, police said. The total value of merchandise taken was $383.49. While Phillips was processed, she gave officers a false name, according to the report.

Dark Turn

Police said a car was pulled over after making a U-turn while driving without headlights on 159th Street near Parkhill Drive around 4:15 p.m. The officer smelled alcohol on the driver’s breath, an empty glass bottle in a paper bag was found on the car’s floor and the driver failed field sobriety tests, police said. Michael J. O’Leary, 21, of the 3800 block of West 83rd Street in Chicago, was charged with driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol level greater than .08, driving without headlights turned on, driving an uninsured vehicle and illegal transportation of alcohol.

Hide the Bottle

Police said a car was pulled over for driving without taillights turned on after crossing over the median line on 143rd Street near 108th Avenue around 2:20 a.m. The officer found an empty bottle of beer, as well as a full one, and the driver and two passengers were younger than 21, according to the report. Lukasz W. Szczepaniak, 19, of the 15300 block of Graceland Drive in Homer Glen, was charged with improper lane use and underage consumption of alcohol. He was also given a municipal violation for driving under the influence. Krzysztof Paluch, 18, of the 11700 block of Kristoffer Court in Orland Park, and Concepcion W. Ortiz, 18 of the 7000 block of West 87th Street in Bridgeview, were both cited for consumption of alcohol by a minor.

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