Intruder Tries to Fake Out Dad By Impersonating Son: Weird Crimes

Bad Impression

Nov. 17: An alleged burglar tried to fake a Tinley Park man's son voice after a strange noise alerted the resident to the break in.

Police have released the description of a burglar who apparently snuck into a home earlier this month in the 17200 block of South 68th Court.

A 34-year-old father called out to his son after hearing a strange noise coming from his room at about 2:30 a.m., according to a Tinley Park police report. He heard a mumble in response but didn't believe he was hearing his son's voice.

The father then checked on his son and found a man standing inside the bedroom, the report states. When asked why he was there, the man said he "thought he was in his girl's house." The startled parent also noticed that the stranger was hurt and bleeding. The man claimed he injured his hand in a bar fight.

The strange man then walked downstairs after being asked to leave and left the house, the report states.

Several hours later, the father discovered his son's Apple iTouch was missing and that the trunk of his car was open, the report states. Someone also had gone through the car but nothing seemed to be missing. The Tinley Park father later noticed a bloody tissue had been left near the home's sliding doors.

Paramedics responded to a call of a bloody hand at an apartment in the 17400 block of South 69th Avenue about an hour after the stranger left the man's house, the report states. Police tried to follow up with the injured man but were unable to make contact with him again.

The nocturnal visitor is described as a 5-foot, 11-inch white male with blondish-brown hair, according to the report. He wore a Chicago Bulls baseball cap, black parka and black gym shoes. He was last seen walking south on 68th Court.

Anyone with information about the incident may call the Tinley Park Police Department at 708-444-5300.

Read more on Tinley Park Patch

2 Knives and a Baby

Nov. 24: A Frankfort man is accused of driving while drunk with a 6-month old baby in the back seat, while also carrying two knives on him.

Peter J. Garcia, 21, of the 200 block of W. Nebraska, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding and unlawful use of a weapon.

A Mokena patrol officer saw a car driving 63 mph in a 40 mph zone going west in the 10100 block of 191st Street around 1:40 a.m. Sunday. The car jerked and swerved right as it pulled over, after the officer turned on emergency lights, according to a Mokena police report. The driver, Garcia, stepped out of the car and approached the officer, even though the officer told him repeatedly to stay in his car. The officer yelled at him to get back into the car, and had to guide him back to his car, according to the report.

Garcia had a dazed look and an unfocused gaze while talking with the officer, police said. Garcia said “he saw red and blues so I got out” when asked what he was doing. A female passenger was in the front seat and a 6-month-old baby was in the back seat, according to the report. She told the officer they had come from a house party in Mokena, where they both drank, police said.

The officer found a large silver buck style hunting knife in a sheath attached to Garcia’s waist and a medium-sized folding knife in his pocket, according to the report. He said he carried them “for protection.” His breath smelled like alcohol and he failed field sobriety tests, police said.

The passenger said they came from a party in Mokena where she drank as well. When asked why she brought her baby to a party, she said “she slept the whole time,” according to the report.

The man cursed at officers while he was put in handcuffs and yelled at officers during the booking process.

Police also contacted the Department of Child and Family Services about the passenger and her child.

Read more on Mokena Patch

Locked In The Bathroom

Nov. 26: A Palos Park teen is facing a felony charge in court after he restricted the movement a 14-year-old girl in a bathroom at Carl Sandburg High School.

Filisone Gallaher, 17, of Palos Park, is charged with unlawful restraint. He is being tried as an adult because the charge is a felony.

On Tuesday, Gallaher was seen on Sandburg school grounds, and since he is not a Sandburg student he was told by a school resource officer to leave and not to come back, according to Orland Park Police Cmdr. John Keating.

Later that evening, he returned to the school and was found outside a women’s bathroom by school night security at around 5:45 p.m.

“He went into a women’s restroom and restricted the movement of a female student,” Keating said. “When he was exiting the bathroom, two Sandburg night security guards were waiting, and he fled the building on foot.”

The 14-year-old female student was not injured, Keating said.

Gallaher was found at his home on Wednesday and taken into custody. Gallaher was identified by the student, another witness and the two security guards, Keating said.

He was in court Thursday morning at Bridgeview, where he was given $75,000 bail for the unlawful restraint charge.

Read more on Palos Patch

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Police report information is provided by local police departments. 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.

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