Man Curses Out Cops, Urinates on Cell Door: Police Blotter

FRIDAY, SEPT. 14

Those Are My Things, Not Yours

Police responded to a burglary to vehicle call at the Original Pancake House, 5140 159th Street. The victim told police that somebody broke his driver's side window and removed his laptop case, laptop and wallet. The victim said there was a debit card, credit card, drivers license, insurance card and various other cards in the wallet.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 13

'Jewel' Thief

Daniel M. Wetzel, 46, of the 9500 block of Golfview Drive in Frankfort, was charged with retail theft, after removing several items from Jewel, 5616 159th Street. The loss prevention officer at Jewel notified police that he witnessed Wetzel remove the items from the store and leave on a bicycle.

Police found Wetzel riding North on Peggy Lane, where he admitted to the theft. He was then taken in to custody and charged.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12

"I Wasn't Driving"

Brian M. McCracken, 33, of the 16100 block of Debra Drive, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after police stopped him due to another motorist's tip. When officers pulled McCracken over in the 15900 block of Lorel Avenue, he was backing into mailboxes along the roadway.

During the stop, McCracken told police he wasn't driving and had not been drinking. While stopped he refused to attempt any field sobriety tests, was verbally agressive with police and was arrested.

During a search of his car, officers found a wooden 'hitter box,' containing a pipe with burnt residue inside and a green plant-like substance in the storage compartment of the box.

At the police department, McCracken yelled at officers and urinated on his cell door. He was charged with DUI, improper backing, improper lane usage, possession of cannabis, possession of drug pipe, failure to display a valid city vehicle sticker.

McCracken is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 12 at the Bridgeview Courthouse.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 5

Thief Looking to Keep Cool

The victim of a theft in the 4200 block of 166th Street notified police that three air conditioner units were removed from a home under construction. The victim told officers that sometime between Aug. 31 and Sept. 4 an unknown person(s) removed the three units, cutting the coolant and electric lines, and throwing the breakers to the ground.

Police took fingerprints and sent the breakers to the Illinois State Police lab for further fingerprinting.

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.