Police Blotter: Bikers Attack Car; Woman Says Fraud Paid For Funeral; 'I Am An American,' Declares Drunken Driver

FRIDAY, APRIL 29

Motorcyclists Attack Car

Two motorcyclists were arrested at the intersection of 159th Street and Harlem Avenue after they and two other men boxed in a car at the stop light, got off their motorcycles and started hitting and spitting on the car, one of them kicking the door, denting it shortly before 6 p.m. April 29, police said. Emad El Talla, 39, of the 10200 block of Southwest Highway, Chicago Ridge, was arrested on outstanding Pike County warrants for deceptive practices and contempt of court. Ziyad Zayed, 29, of the 12600 block of Central, Alsip, was charged with criminal damage to a vehicle for kicking the man’s car.

THURSDAY, APRIL 28

Swindle Was For Funeral Bill, Woman Says

Nicole Toney, 34, of the 0-99 block of 167th Street, Calumet City, was charged with felony theft after telling the First Midwest Bank where she works in Tinley Park that more than $2,000 in actual purchases she made were fraud, police said. After the bank credited Toney’s account for $2,092.55 for the “fraudulent” charges, Toney withdrew the money, later telling police it was to help with her brother-in-law’s funeral expenses. The charges included a $1,039.16 trip to Wal-Mart and unspecified charges at a Play & Trade store. She had been photographed making the Play & Trade purchases, police said.

Vandals Storm Tower

Shortly before 1:20 a.m. April 28, a neighbor of Tower Car Wash, 15950 84th Ave., spotted two white male juveniles making off with the front entrance sign for the Tinley Park car wash, police said. The neighbor told police he heard one teen call the other “Joe.”

Copper Wire Stolen

Someone cut out several pieces of copper wire between 1:30 April 18 and 7 a.m. April 28 from a vacant home on the 17500 block of Navajo Trail, police said. The theft was noticed by the man who checks on the home for the bank that owns it, police said.

Window Smashed

Someone smashed the window of a 2004 Silver Honda Civic parked in the driveway of a home on the 16100 block of Creekmont Court, Tinley Park, between 6:30 p.m. April 27 and 5:30 a.m. April 28, police said. The owner found a large river rock laying in the back seat, police said.

TUESDAY, APRIL 26

“I Am An American,” Accused Drunken Driver Tells Cops

Louis Berg, 43, of the 7000 block of 173rd Place, Tinley Park, was charged with drunken driving after staff at Applebee’s called police to say Berg and another intoxicated patron were going to drive home at 10:45 p.m. April 26, police said. After witnessing the car swerve, officers tried to pull over the vehicle at 173rd Place and Harlem Avenue, police said. Berg eventually pulled over at 173rd Place and 71st Avenue, police said. Officers found a cooler between the front driver's and passenger seats and an empty but still-cold Budweiser bottle under the driver's seat. Berg’s passenger said the two men had been drinking prior to Applebee's. While in police lock-up, Berg reportedly told officers “I am an American citizen and I do not think I have to go through this.”

SUNDAY, APRIL 24

Home Burgled

Someone broke into a home on the 16800 block of New England Avenue, Tinley Park, between 7:16 and 8:05 p.m. April 24, stealing $3,800 worth of jewelry including the one of the residents’ wedding and engagement rings, her mother’s class ring and a silver necklace, police said.