Defense: Throw Out Arrest of Drifter Accused in Sex Assault
A public defender for Dennis Dodson, the drifter accused of sexually assaulting a then-83-year-old woman near Tinley Park, is filing a motion to quash the arrest based on the identification of Dodson in a photo array.
A public defender for a homeless man accused of sexually assaulting an elderly woman is questioning the photo identification of her client and announced Thursday that she is filing a motion to get his arrest thrown out.
Dennis Dodson, 36, is currently in Cook County jail and appeared in Judge John J. Hynes' Bridgeview courtroom in his customary khaki Department of Corrections uniform and ponytail.
Prosecutors say on Sept. 26, 2011, Dodson wrestled an elderly woman to the ground, and sexually assaulted her behind the Home Depot at 159th Street and Harlem Avenue in Orland Park where he was living at the time. She had offered Dodson food and crackers two days prior, and returned to tell him she was working to find him a shelter, according to reports.
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Assistant Public Defender Camille Bachli asked prosecutor Clarissa Palermo for information Thursday about how police obtained Dodson's photo for an array presented to the alleged victim for identification.
Bachli said she wants to determine if it was actually Dodson's picture included in the array.
Palermo responded that the photo used is Dodson's booking photo from another state. Dodson's rap sheet includes 60 arrests in 15 states, according to past reports.
However, Palermo indicated that she doesn't know if and what kind of information investigators would have to prove that information.
"I'm not sure he'll be able to come up with anything," Palermo told the judge.
"It's all to the state's benefit (if there is such information)," Hynes responded. "If there's a question of the ID of the person in the photo. I haven't seen it...but if there's a question on that, maybe you can track that down."
Palermo said she will object if Dodson's attorney subpoenas the now 84-year-old alleged victim as part of the motion.
Hynes said both sides are welcome to present case law for him to consider regarding whether the woman should be summoned.
Dodson is scheduled to be back in court on Feb. 21.
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OtherTPresident
10:22 am on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
What's PATCH got against Tinley Park? ..."and sexually assaulted her behind the Home Depot, near Tinley Park, at 159th Street and Harlem Avenue..." Um, last time I checked, Home Depot was in Orland Park. It's not an unincorporated area, rural outpost, or something where it would be tough to pin down a location.
Does PATCH use any editors, checking for content and grammer? Do our schools still teach any of this? "...appeared in Judge John J. Hynes' Bridgeview courtroom in his customary khaki Department of Corrections uniform and ponytail." When did the DOC start issuing ponytails?
Lauren Traut
11:27 am on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
You're right, Other TPresident, it is in Orland Park.
However, the day that this happened, people were on high alert in Orland Park, Tinley Park and Oak Forest, because of the proximity to Tinley Park and the police presence along 159th Street.
What we've learned over time is that people are greatly impacted by news not only in their hometown, but also in surrounding areas. People do not live merely within the confines of their town's boundaries, but travel around the area. For instance, many Tinley Park residents travel 159th Street frequently, and might even shop at that Home Depot.
We apologize if you feel as though this news isn't particularly relevant to you, but we like to offer updates on well-known cases in the area.
Thanks for the input,
Lauren Traut
Associate Regional Editor
Harry Callahan
11:52 am on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Crime was committed in Orland Park,but take note I have come across many drifters and panhandlers in the shopping mall by Walts Foods.Many shoppers are of old age and many have a soft heart.
BEAV
4:03 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
i agree. this should state that the assault occurred in orland park. it is an obvious dig on tinley. how about.....sexual assault occurred in orland park and had neighboring towns on alert........
Lauren Traut
8:41 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Hello, folks.
For clarification, the article never stated the attack occurred in Tinley Park. It said that it occurred near Tinley Park, merely as a geographical descriptor. We included that phrase simply as a reference point for readers.
I've removed that descriptor and it now only reads that it occurred in Orland Park.
Thanks.
Lauren
K.B.C.
6:33 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Really? Does it matter what town it was labeled as? You know which home depot was referred to so be grateful for the heads up warning and quit complaining about the error of geography. Furthermore, be sympathetic for the 83 year old good samaritan who tried to help him out and the fact that she is okay. It could have been anybody's Grandmother and I don't think they would have carerd weather it happened in T.P. or O.P They would just have been thankful that he was caught.
Eileen
9:43 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Well put K.B. Thank you.
Harry Callahan
7:37 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
Oh Really?Hey ABC she was not okay,she was sexually assaulted.
Eileen
9:54 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
http://orlandpark.patch.com/articles/drifter-accused-in-orland-rape-arrested-at-least-60-times