Pot and driving don’t mix: police reports up to August 8, 2022

One officer made it very clear to a man from Park Forest: You can get a DUI while driving under the influence of marijuana. (MGN)

Park Forest, Ill. – (ENEWSPF) – Two men have been charged with unlawful possession of adult-use cannabis in a motor vehicle. One of the men told police he knew you could get a DUI “in some countries” by smoking weed and driving. The officer told him he was in one of those countries.

These reports cover arrests from August 2 through August 8, 2022. Other incidents include a DUI, criminal damage to property, and criminal trespass.

Reports from the Park Forest Police blotter up to August 8, 2022

Illegal possession of cannabis for adult use in a vehicle

Jahiem R. Williams, 21, 14511 Sawyer Ave., Midlothian, was arrested Aug. 2 and issued traffic tickets charging failure to signal when required, using an improper lane, driving a uninsured motor vehicle, failing to yield to an authorized emergency vehicle, and unlawful possession of cannabis for adult use in a motor vehicle. Mr Williams has a September 13 court date at the Will County Courthouse.

The arresting officer noted the smell of cannabis emanating from his vehicle and also observed small amounts of cannabis “shaking” on the passenger floor and near the gear lever, according to the report. Mr. Williams also had colored ziplock bags, a green/yellow ‘Cannaa Banana’ open ziplock bag that had no dispensary label, and another ziplock bag containing approximately 2 grams of cannabis flower with a label of state CA (California).

The bags containing the cannabis were not in a sealed, childproof and smellproof box
container, according to the police.

Police also found 17 debit cards in his possession that were not printed in his name, according to police. Police are investigating why Mr Williams had the debit cards recovered.

Police arrested Mr Williams when they saw a white Dodge Charger heading south on Western Avenue that maneuvered from the left lane into the left turn lane of Steger Road, allegedly without signage, police say . When the Dodge was given the go-ahead and began to turn eastbound onto Steger Road, the vehicle did so again without signaling, police said.

To guarantee

Jimmy D. Sorrell, 22, 1023 Ashridge Lane, University Park, and taken into custody on a bail forfeiture warrant out of Will County when an officer saw a Pontiac G6 with expired registration driving on Sauk Trail , according to the police.

Illegal possession of cannabis for adult use in a vehicle

Troy X. Newborn, 24, 341 Merrimac St., Park Forest, was arrested on August 5 and issued tickets for unlawful possession of adult-use cannabis in a motor vehicle and unlawful consumption of cannabis in a vehicle motorized.

An officer was dispatched to the Indianwood Boulevard and Sock Trail area to assist a motorist, police said. SouthCom Dispatch said a black SUV was stopped in traffic with no lights on. When the responding officer arrived, he found a renegade black Jeep stopped in the middle of traffic with no lights on. Behind the vehicle was a man later identified as Troy X. Newborn, according to the report.

The officer approached the vehicle and spoke with Mr. Newborn, asking if he had run out of gas. Mr. Newborn said he wasn’t and just needed a jump. The officer asked if Mr. Newborn had anyone on the way to help him and Mr. Newborn said roadside assistance was on the way, according to police.

The officer offered to help Mr. Newborn move the Jeep out of traffic until help arrived, but Mr. Newborn said the vehicle could not be put into neutral because it was of a push-start vehicle, according to police. The agent explained to Mr. Newborn that these vehicles were equipped with an override cable which is usually found near the center console and offered to help Mr. Newborn locate this cable.

Mr Newborn accepted the officer’s assistance and the officer opened his car door to look for the light switch, police said.

Immediately after opening the vehicle door, the officer noted that a “profuse amount of smoke was billowing from inside the vehicle, along with a strong smell of burning cannabis,” according to the report.

The officer questioned Mr. Newborn about cannabis and asked if Mr. Newborn had smoked cannabis in the vehicle, to which Mr. Newborn reportedly replied, “Yes.” The officer asked Mr. Newborn why and Mr. Newborn said it was something he did sometimes and had been doing for some time, according to police.

The officer then asked Mr Newborn if he realized he could get a DUI for smoking and driving, to which Mr Newborn said he was aware but ‘only in certain countries’ , according to the report. The officer informed him that he was in such a country and that he could get a DUI here in that country if he smoked and drove, according to police.

The officer did not issue him a DUI, according to the report.

DUI

Keahnna M. Thompkins, 27, 3536 William St., Steger, was arrested Aug. 7 and issued tickets for misusing the lane, failing to signal, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, violating devices child restraint and driving under the influence of alcohol. Ms Thompkins was also charged with one count of endangering the life or health of a child, police say. Details of this incident are here.

Criminal damage to property

Detrice L. Smith, 49, 1537 Greenwood Ave., Ford Heights, 7-Eleven property damage. Upon arrival, an officer observed that a chain-link fence that usually stands upright outside the business had been knocked down, police said. An officer met with an employee who named a man, Detrice Smith, who caused the damage to the fence, police say. The officer reviewed security footage of the incident and was able to identify the subject who allegedly caused the damage, according to police. At the time, Mr Smith was at the nearby Shell petrol station.

When an officer approached Mr Smith, they discovered that Mr Smith was showing signs of intoxication: slurred speech, problems with his balance and bloodshot eyes, according to police.

Mr Smith claimed he had not been to 7-Eleven and officers should be watching security cameras. At that time, police took Mr. Smith into custody and applied handcuffs to him, according to police. According to the report, on surveillance video, Mr. Smith can be seen walking up to the chain-link fence in question, not appearing to trip, and pulling the fence towards him, causing the fence to fall and damage the frame and a door handle, police said.

Police charged Mr. Smith and released him with an I-Bond. Due to Mr Smith being intoxicated, an officer drove Mr Smith to the Beacon Hill area at his request, where a member of his family lives, according to police.

Criminal trespass

Derek L. Williams, 36, 13 Hemlock St., Park Forest, and charged with criminal trespassing on property and being dealt with on a warrant charging with criminal trespassing on property when police responded to a business in the first block from Main Street in reference to a report from an unwanted topic. The report notes that the responding officer had more than a dozen encounters with Mr. Williams and that Mr. Williams had previously been banned from the company, according to police. The officer advised Mr. Williams that he would need $2,075.00 to post bond on the warrant, according to the report.

About Police Reports

Please note that we repeatedly say “according to the police” in these reports and often use the word “allegedly”. We in no way assert that those arrested and/or charged have committed any offences. We report on what is in the media reports provided by the police. Since those accused are innocent until proven guilty, the onus is on prosecutors and police to prove all alleged crimes.

eNews Park Forest has always published the addresses of those arrested and will continue to do so. 5 ILCS 140/2.15 states that the government agency (for these reports, the police department), to have to publish information about the accused persons, including their name, age and address. This information is necessary to guarantee the correct identity of the persons arrested.

An arrest does not mean that a person is guilty. All those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty. It is eNews Park Forest policy not to remove public record material from the publication. If your name appears in police reports, we will only add information relevant to the final disposition of the pending case, such as “Mr. Smith was later acquitted”, “Mr. Smith pleaded guilty” or “All charges against Mr. Smith were subsequently dropped.” We will do so after receiving and verifying evidence of such provision.

All of the incidents in this report were captured on body-worn and/or dashboard-mounted cameras by officers at the respective scene, according to police. All Park Forest police wear body-worn cameras. These devices are now usually abbreviated BWC in reports.

Individuals wishing to leave anonymous information about criminal matters, including narcotics or gang activity, are encouraged to call the Park Forest Police Department Investigations Division at (708) 748-1309.

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