Alleged Drunk Driver Passed Out at the Wheel: Midlothian Police Blotter

SUNDAY, FEB. 24

Brawling at Durbin's

Joshua John Vasquez, 24, of the 8700 block of 81st Court, Hickory Hills, was arrested for battery, following a fight at Durbin's, 14753 S. Cicero Avenue.

Police were at Durbin's following a call for a vehicle lockout, when they noticed a large disturbance near the front door, according to the report.

Officers spoke with management and two bouncers, who said that Vasquez had just started a large fight inside the bar, when Vasquez exited the establishment, according to the report.

Officers took Vasquez into custody and then spoke with three victims in the bar, who said Vasquez struck them with bottles and punched one victim in the face.

Police transported Vasquez to the Midlothian Police Department, where he was processed and given a court date of March 19.

SATURDAY, FEB. 23

Not Exactly Brotherly Love

Ronney Benjamin Valadez, 53, of the 70 block of McKinley Avenue, Hobart, Ind., was charged with domestic battery, criminal damage to property and criminal trespass to residence, following an incident at his brother's home in the 14400 block of S. Linder Avenue.

Police were called to the home after the victim, Valadez's brother, reported that Valadez kicked in the brother's front door and shoved the brother to the ground before fleeing the scene.

Police located Valadez near the intersection of 147th Street and Cicero Avenue, at which time they spoke with Valadez, who admitted to shoving his brother.

An officer then went to the brother's home, and spoke with the brother and his wife. The pair both told officers Valadez kicked in the front door of their home, before entering and shoving the brother to the ground, causing him to bang his head. The brother refused medical treatment, but told officers he wished to file charges against Valadez.

Valadez was then transported to the Midlothian Police Department, where he was process, before being placed in a holding cell to await transport to a bond hearing.

Alleged Drunk Driver Passed Out at Stoplight

Tyronda R. Bennett, 32, of the 13900 block of S. Central Park Avenue, Robbins, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, BAC more than .08, and possession of cannabis, following a traffic stop in 15200 block of S. Pulaski Road.

Police were called to the scene after a motorist reported a truck stopped in the right lane of traffic on Pulaski Road.

At the scene, police found Bennett asleep behind the wheel of her pickup truck. After several attempts to wake Bennett, police gained entry to the truck using a lockout tool kit and woke Bennett by using a sternum rub technique, according to the report.

Upon being woken up, Bennett told officers to, 'Stop messing with my chest,' and that they had no right to bother her in a parking lot.

Police informed Bennett she was not in a parking lot and asked her to step out of the truck, after she was unable to provide a driver's license or insurance information.

After getting out of the truck, officers noted a baggie containing a green, leafy substance in the driver's seat of the truck and immediately took Bennett into custody. The substance later field-tested positive as cannabis.

While speaking with Bennett, officers noted a strong smell of alcohol on her breath. She was then transported to the the Midlothian Police Department, where she performed field sobriety tests, which she failed, according to the report. She then blew a .212.

Bennett was given a court date of March 19 for her DUI charges and a hearing date of April 1 for her possession charge.

FRIDAY, FEB. 22

Exboyfriend Batters Former Flame

Ikechukwu N. Nwokeji, 25, of the 14700 block of S. Honore Avenue, Harvey, was charged with aggravated battery, following an incident in the 14700 block of S. Turner Avenue.

Police were called to the scene by the victim, who said Nwokeji, her ex-boyfriend, pushed her to the ground and jumped on top of her, before attempting to strangle her with his hands, punching her in the arm and shoveling snow on her face, making it difficult to breath, according to the report. The victim refused medical treatment from paramedics at the scene.

Harvey police were able to locate Nwokeji at a barber shop in Harvery, where he was taken into cusdoty without incident, according to the report.

Midlothian police took Nwokeji to the Midlothian Police Department, where he told police the victim had given him a ride home earlier in the day and that the marks on the victim were possibly from a fight the day before that the victim had with another girl.

Police called the Cook County State's Attorney's office, who sent an assistant state's attorney to interview Nwokeji and the victim. After the interviews, felony charges were approved and Nwokeji was placed in a holding cell to await a bond hearing.

Suspect Steals Bottles of Jack Daniel's

Marvin Atkins, 44, of the 15400 block of S. Birch Avenue, was charged with felony retail theft after an incident at CVS, 14701 S. Pulaski Road.

Police were called to the store after a clerk reported that Atkins had stolen three bottles of Jack Daniel's.

Officers located Atkins in the parking lot of Midlothian Auto Group, 14700 S. Pulaski Road and began questioning him. He told officers that he did not take anything from CVS, according to the report.

The clerk from CVS then came to the location and positively identified Atkins and officers located the three bottles near where they first saw Atkins in the parking lot.

Atkins was taken to the Midlothian Police Department, where he was processed and then placed into a holding cell to wait a bond hearing.  

Police Blotter information is provided by the Midlothian 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.