Pit Bull Bites Family Member's Face: Midlothian Police Blotter

SUNDAY, JAN. 6

'My Friend Framed Me, For Stealing That Purse'

Mary K. Bartuskiak, 43, of the 14800 block of S. Richmond Avenue, Posen, was charged with theft $500 and under after an incident at Durbin's Bar, 14753 S. Cicero Avenue.

Police were called to the bar after a patron reported that their purse was missing. At the bar, police spoke with the victim, who said their purse was on a chair at the bar and that when they looked over, the purse was gone.

The victim alerted the bar's manager, who later observed Bartuskiak enter the woman's restroom with a purse matching the victim's description. The manager asked Bartuskiak to follower her into the kitchen, where the manager found a pink iPod touch in Bartuskiak's purse, which the victim claimed was hers.

Bartuskiak threw the iPod several feet away from her when it was found and told officers a friend took the purse and placed the iPod in Bartuskiak's purse to frame her.

Bartuskiak was charged with theft and was processed at the Midlothian Police Station, before being released on bond, pending a Feb. 26 court date.

SATURDAY, JAN. 5

Somebody Picked Up My Prescriptions

A victim of identity theft came to the Midlothian Police Station to report an unknown person(s) had picked up two separate prescriptions from Walgreen's.

The victim told officers that her mother dropped off the prescriptions in December and that when she went to pick them up, the medicine had already taken by the unknown suspect(s). The pharmacists at Walgreen's said that one prescription was paid for with cash, while the other was paid for by health insurance.

Walgreen's employees told the victim that once a police report was filed, a video of the two transactions would be released to the police.

THURSDAY, JAN. 3

No Seatbelt, No License and an Open Beer

Randy D. Andersen, 55, of the 29800 block of State Route 50, Peotone, was charged with failure to wear seat belt, driving while license revoked, operation of uninsured motor vehicle, illegal transportation/possession of alcoholic liquor-driver and unlawful use of license, following a traffic stop in the 14700 block of S. Pulaski Road.

While on patrol, officers pulled Andersen over after noticing he was not wearing a seat belt. During the stop, officers could smell the odor of alcohol coming from both Andersen and his vehicle. A search of police records showed Andersen's license was revoked for a DUI conviction in Indiana.

While performing a search of the car, officers located an open beer bottle in the backseat.

Andersen was taken into custody and processed at the Midlothian Police Station. He was released on bond, pending a Feb. 26 court date.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 2

Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Citations

Santiago P. Esparza, 20, of the 13300 block of Ann Street, Blue Island, and Juan Audelo, 20, of the 12900 block of Division Street, Blue Island, were both issued citations for possession of cannabis under 30 grams following a traffic stop in the 14600 block of S. Pulaski Road.

While on patrol, police ran a check of a vehicle's license plate and found the owner's license suspended, and an outstanding warrant in his name.

Officers stopped the car and spoke with Esparza, who was not the vehicle's owner, and Audelo, his passenger. Officers spoke with Esparza outside the vehicle, during which time he admitted to having some marijuana on him, which he gave to police. Officers also located a red “grinder” in the vehicle, which also contained marijuana, which Audelo claimed as his.

Both were taken to the Midlothian Police Department and processed, before being released.

Pit Bull Bites Family Member's Face

Tamika M. Thompson, 29, of the 14600 block of S. Keystone Avenue, was issued a citation for no valid animal license for the Village of Midlothian after a victim reported Thompson's pit bull bit her on the face on Dec. 31, 2012.

The victim told officers on Jan. 2 that she was at Thompson's house and got up to wash her hands, when the dog jumped up and bit her on the face, causing a puncture wound and laceration to the victim's mouth. The victim said she went to St. James Hospital, where she received seven stitches for the injuries.

The victim said she did not report the incident sooner because Thompson said she was going to get rid of the dog, but that the victim became worried the dog might bite one of the children in the home.

Police went to Thompson's residence, where Thompson was able to produce proper paper vaccination and rabies paperwork, but not a village animal license.

Police issued Thompson a citation and completed a Cook County Animal Control bite card, which was mailed to the Cook County Animal and Rabies Control Department.

Thompson is scheduled to appear at a hearing on Feb. 4.

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.