Husband Threatens to Shoot Wife: Midlothian Police Blotter

TUESDAY, DEC. 18

The Hallway is Not a Bathroom

Janet Quintero, 24, of the 15000 block of Talman Avenue, Harvey, was issued a citation for public indecency, after witnesses said she urinated in the hallway of an apartment complex.

Police arrived at the apartment complex, in the 3300 block of W. 147th Place, after witnesses called in a report of a female urinating in the hallway. At the scene, police located Quintero, who at first denied any wrongdoing.

She later changed her story and told officers she had to use the bathroom and didn't know what to do, because she was locked out of her friend's apartment. Police issued Quintero a citation, with a court date of Feb. 4, 2013.

MONDAY, DEC. 17

Jug of Money Goes Missing

Police were called to an apartment in the 14600 block of S. Keystone Avenue, after a resident reported their ex-girlfriend removed a 5-gallon water jug full of currency from the apartment.

At the scene, police spoke with the victim, who said he believed his ex-girlfriend removed the jug, which contained between $500-1,000 in U.S. coins and currency. The victim also told officers the ex admitted to removing quarters from the jug, but that was it.

The victim added that the ex-girlfriend is moving out of the apartment as of Dec. 19, and wanted the incident documented. No charges were filed.

SUNDAY, DEC. 16

Husband Threatens Wife with Gun

Richard P. Barthel, 45, of the 14500 block of S. Kolmar Avenue, was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm and domestic assault following an incident at his home at 4:46 a.m.

Police were called to the home after the victim, Barthel's wife, called police and told officers that Barthel entered the bedroom and fired a shot into a wall. The victim said Barthel was upset because the victim was sleeping. Barthel then exited the bedroom and went into the living room downstairs.

The victim told officers she then attempted to walk downstairs, at which time Barthel fired two shots from the main level of the home, before shouting, “Get back upstairs or I will shoot you.”

The victim said she exited the house as quickly as possible and went to her mother's, where she called police.

Officers then went to the Barthel home, where they found Barthel and took him into custody without incident. Barthel told officers they were free to search the home, during which time officers found two loaded handguns in the living room. Officers also found several shell casings inside and outside the home.

Officers spoke with Barthel at the Midlothian Police Station, where he told officers he heard noises outside the home and became concerned, which is why got the gun to investigate the noises. Barthel said the gun went off on accident once in the bedroom and twice more in the living room.

Barthel also told officers he goes shooting at a gun range about four times per month, to relieve stress. He added that he and the victim were in a three-week-long marital dispute at the time.

SATURDAY, DEC. 15

Pool Hall Junkie

Police were called to Halftime Lounge, 14640 S. Waverly Place, after patrons reported a guest carrying a knife.

At the bar, police located Michael J. Cooper, 31, of the 14700 block of S. Kilpatrick Avenue, and Thomas W. Schimming, 26, of the 14700 block of S. Kilpatrick Avenue, inside the bar. Patrons identified one of the two men as carrying a knife and that they didn't feel safe playing pool with the two any longer.

Officers talked to Cooper and Schimming, who consented to a safety pat down. Officers patted the pair down, locating on small knife on Cooper's hip.

Also during the pat down, officers found two small, plastic baggies containing suspected cocain in Schimming's pocket.

Both men were taken to the Midlothian Police Department, where they were processed. Cooper was charged with disorderly conduct and issued a citation, while Schimming was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Cooper was released with a court date of Jan. 7, 2013, while Schimming was taken into custody and held at Markham Lockup to wait for a bond hearing.

Speeder Popped for DUI

Keith L. Bozeman, 34, of the 600 block of W. Oakley Avenue, Lowell, Ind., was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding and BAC greater then .08, after police stopped him in the 14400 block of S. Cicero Avenue.

Police stopped Bozeman after their radar clocked him driving 59-miles-per-hour in a 35-miles-per-hour zone on Cicero Avenue. During the stop, police detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Bozeman, and asked him to step out of this vehicle to preform standard field sobriety tests.

Officers conducted the tests and concluded that Bozeman failed each test and was taken into custody and transported him to the Midlothian Police Department.

At the department, Bozeman submitted a breath sample of .19, more than double the legal limit. He was charged and then released on bond, with a court date at the Markham Courthouse on Jan. 16, 2013

TV Remote Faceoff

Samantha L. Wiksten, 32, of the 14800 block of S. Keeler Avenue, was charged with domestic battery, after she struck a victim in the face with a television remote at her home.

Police arrived on the scene after Wiksten called officers to the residence, stating that her boyfriend had pushed her to the ground. While speaking with officers, police noted that Wiksten was very intoxicated and she told them she was out drinking with co-workers prior to the incident.

Police spoke with the victim, who said he was asleep on the couch when Wiksten came home drunk and woke him up, beginning to hit him with couch cushions.

The victim said he then got up and went upstairs to get away from Wiksten, who followed him and kept asking way he was upset.

The victim said Wiksten then asked why he was ignoring her and struck him with a television in the face, causing redness and swelling. The victim admitted to grabbing Wiksten, but only to restrain her from striking him again.

When the victim let Wiksten go, that was when she called police to the home.

Wiksten was taken into custody and transported to the Midlothian Police Department, where she blew a .123 and was charged for domestic battery. She was then transported to the Markham Courthouse to await a bond hearing.

Equinox Stolen from Street

Police were called to the 3600 block of 147th Street, after a resident reported their car was stolen. At the scene, police spoke with the victim, who said that sometime 5:45-10:53 p.m., an unknown suspect(s) stole her Chevy Equinox.

The victim told officers that they noticed the key to the vehicle was missing from their key ring as well.

The victim called SMJ Towing to see if the vehicle was relocated and was told it was not.

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.