Crime & Safety

$17K in Medical Equipment Stolen From Home: Oak Forest Police Blotter

Oak Forest police reports, Nov. 19–25.

SUNDAY, NOV. 25

Drunken Boyfriend Pushes Girlfriend

Benard V. Phillips, 30, 16000 block of LeClaire Aveune, was charged with domestic battery following an incident at the home he shares with his girlfriend and her mother.

At the scene, officers spoke with the victim, who said Phillips returned to the home intoxicated and started an argument with the victim and shoved her.

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The suspect refused to answer any questions officers asked him and he was taken to the Oak Forest Police Department, where he was processed and transported to the Bridgeview Courthouse.

Don't Pack a Blunt in a Closed Parking Lot

Michael A. Stowe, 22, of the 5600 block of Albert Drive, was charged with possession of cannabis 30 grams or under after an incident in the 15600 block of Central Avenue.

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While on patrol, officers saw Stowe sitting in his car in a closed parking lot. Officers stopped and tried to question Stowe, who was moving frantically in the car, even after officers told him to put his hands up and not move.

Stowe finally opened his driver's side door and officers detected a strong odor of cannabis coming from the car. As Stowe exited the car, a blunt wrapper and tobacco fell from his lap. Officers searched the car and found cannabis stems and seeds on the floor, along with clear plastic baggies used for transporting cannabis in plain sight. In the center counsel, officers also found a jar containing 5 grams of a green, leafy substance, which field tested positive for cannabis.

Stowe was taken to the Oak Forest Police Department, where he was processed.

FRIDAY, NOV. 23

$17,000 Worth of Medical Equipment Stolen

Police were called to a home in the 5300 block of Jessica Drive after a resident reported a burglary to their garage.

At the scene, the victim told officers that an unknown suspect(s) entered their garage and removed an ultrasound machine and laptop from their work bag. The victim said the items were for house calls that he makes as part of his job at St. Anthony Hospital.

The victim said the items were valued at $17,000. The victim provided officers with serial numbers for the items, and told officers that the garage is open during the day, but that it is secured at night. The victim said they thought the burglary happened during the day.

Police did not process the scene for evidence, because nothing else in the garage appeared to be disturbed.

MONDAY, Nov. 19

Fighting with Family

Police were on patrol in the 5000 block of W. 151st Street when they saw two people in the driveway of a home yelling, when one pushed the other and then punched her in the face.

As officers approached, Thomas R. Ryder II, 22, who lives at the home, ran into the back yard. Officers followed Ryder and he became aggressive, according to police, trying to punch one before he was taken to the ground. He struggled while on the ground, kicked the officer several times before the officer released Ryder, police said.

Ryder scrambled to his feet and attempted to engage the officer. The officer drew his taser and tased Ryder, who fell to the ground and was placed in handcuffs.

Ryder was placed in a squad car, where he began banging his head on the window of the car, police called the Oak Forest Fire Department, who took Ryder to Palos Hospital for psychological observation.

Police spoke with the victim, Ryder's mother, who said Ryder was on medication. His mother told police the medications are causing Ryder to, “act like he's out of his mind.”

Ryder's family went to the Oak Forest Police Department, where officers told them Ryder would be released to the family. He was then to be taken, by the family, to the police department, where he would be charged with battery to a police officer and domestic battery.

Police Blotter information is provided by the Oak Forest Police Department. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken 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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