Blotter: Beer Cans Up the Coat Sleeves While Driving? That Trick Never Works

• CORRECTION (4:23 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29): In earlier version of this article transposed street names in the first item. They have been corrected.

SUNDAY, NOV. 11

Traffic Stop Leads to DUI Charge

Benjamin D. Reardon, 24, of the 16500 block of Blossom Lane, was charged with driving under the influence, driving without insurance, speeding and disobeying a traffic control device after a traffic stop near the intersection of 167th Street and Harlem Avenue, according to police reports.

A Tinley Park Police officer saw Reardon run a red light at Harlem Avenue around 2:50 a.m., as he drove his red, 1996 Dodge Stratus southbound on Harlem Avenue, the report stated, adding a Cook County Sheriff's officer already was pursuing Reardon.

Once pulled over near the intersection of 168th Street and Harlem Avenue, officers from both agencies spoke with Reardon, whose speech was slurred and eyes bloodshot and watery, the report stated. The Tinley Park officer said she could smell alcohol on his breath, and she asked Reardon if he had been drinking, the report continued. Reardon replied, "A little," and the sheriff's officer reported seeing about four cans of Miller High Life underneath Reardon's coat, which he wasn't wearing, the report stated.

Reardon failed three field sobriety tests and was arrested by the Tinley Park officer, the report stated. A search of car uncovered 11 cold cans of beer in the sleeves and underneath Reardon's coat, the report continued.

At the Tinley Park Police station, Reardon refused to take a breath test, saying, "That machine looks too medical," according to the report. He also refused to sign a statement saying he understood his Miranda rights, telling the officer that he felt she was trying to trick him, the report stated.

Reardon was released to his father on an I-bond and paid a $500 car impound fee, the report stated.

THURSDAY, NOV. 15

CC Hills Teen, 2 Minors Caught Taking Items From Kohl's

Jasmine King, 18, of the 18000 block of Juneway Court in Country Club Hills, was charged with retail theft and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after being caught taking almost $340 worth of clothing and jewelry from Kohl's, 7500 W. 191st St., according to a report.

The two girls who King was responsible for were cited for retail theft and released to their parents. They had taken $87.94 worth of clothing and jewelry from Kohl's.

King and the two girls entered the store around 8:30 p.m., and in the span of two hours, the took merchandise into dressing rooms and then left with the items on, the report stated. The store's loss protection agent took the trio into custody as they tried to leave the store individually at staggered times, the report continued.

King was released on $1,500 bond, and her court date is Dec. 12.

TUESDAY, NOV. 19

2 Unidentified Suspects Chase Tinley Park Man Around Gas Station

A 24-year-old Tinley Park man said he doesn't know why he was chased by two unidentified men around the Speedway gas station at 183rd Street and Harlem Avenue, according to a police report.

The victim told police he went inside the station, 7201 183rd St., at around 9 p.m., to prepay for gas, the report stated. When he came out, a black man, described as about 6-feet-2, weighing about 200 pounds, with a fade haircut and wearing a red shirt and sweat pants, told him, "Bring your bitch ass here," and then lunged at the victim, the report continued.

That's when the victim ran westbound around the station to the north entrance and waited for the police, the report stated. The victim told police that another suspect had gotten out of the first suspect's car—a black Buick Regal with 24-inch rims and yellow calipers—and also chased him. The victim added that he didn't get a good look at the other suspect because he was too busy fleeing, the report stated.

After the victim escaped, the suspects drove southbound on Harlem Avenue, the report stated. A witness at the station told police she saw two other men in the car and that one of them was holding a black, semi-automatic pistol, the report continued.

The victim said he didn’t know the suspects and told police the suspects didn't threaten or say anything while chasing him, according to the report.

Police report information is provided by the Tinley Park Police Department and other law enforcement agencies. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions 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.

Other Crime Stories on Tinley Park Patch:

• Cigarette Shop Becomes Break-In Target for 2nd Time in Less Than 2 Weeks
• Cell Phone Could Reveal New Evidence in Murder Case: Court Watch
• Tinley Park Woman Charged with Obstruction in Friend's Overdose Death

Two Ways to Stay Connected to Tinley Park Patch:

• Subscribe to our newsletters to have headlines and breaking news delivered to your inbox.
• "Like" our Facebook page for updates throughout the day.