Tinley Park Man Charged in Fatal ATV Crash

Bruce O. Welch Jr., 23, is charged with two counts of aggravated DUI in the 2011 death of an Indiana woman.

A Tinley Park man is free on bond after he was arrested this week in an ATV crash that killed a 23-year-old Indiana woman. Bruce O. Welch Jr., 23, of the 7300 block of West 170th Street, is charged with two counts of aggravated DUI/accidental death, according to the Will County Sheriff's Office. Authorities say Lauren Bussie was a passenger on a 4x4 Polaris Ranger that Welch was driving Sept. 5, 2011, on private property in the 2900 block of Watertower Place in Crete. "Welch lost control and it flipped," said Will County Sheriff's spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer. "It pinned (Bussie) underneath.” Deputies were called at about 4:30 a.m. The Will County coroner arrived later and pronounced Bussie dead at the scene. A group of people had been …

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Mug Shot Monday

Mug Shot Monday, Oct. 29

The accompanying photos were taken at the Tinley Park Police Department between Oct. 12-23.

Mug Shot Mondays is a weekly feature on Tinley Park Patch that spotlights mug shots taken at the local police department and Will County Jail. All pictures were submitted by Tinley Park Police and the Will County Sheriff's Office were taken during when the accused were booked between Oct. 12-23. 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. …

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Mug Shot Monday

Mug Shot Monday, Oct. 15

The accompanying photos were taken at the Tinley Park Police Department and Will County Sheriff's Office between Oct. 6-11.

Mug Shot Mondays is a weekly feature on Tinley Park Patch that spotlights mug shots taken at the local police department and Will County Jail. All pictures were submitted by Tinley Park Police and the Will County Sheriff's Office were taken during when the accused were booked between Oct. 6-11. 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. …

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State, County and Local Fire Officials Investigate 3 Possible Arsons

The State Fire Marshal's Office is working with Frankfort, Tinley Park and Will County investigators to see if a recent series of abandoned structure fires are connected.

Three suspicious fires in unincorporated Will County in less than a week have the State Fire Marshal's Office working with the Frankfort Fire Protection District and Will County Sheriff's Office to determine if an arsonist is to blame. The three fires all involved abandoned structures and ignited—late at night—within miles of one another: "Well, it's definitely suspicious because there were no utilities hooked up," said Frankfort Asst. Fire Chief Larry Rauch. Milly Santiago, spokeswoman for the State Fire Marshal's Office, said it's too early know how the fires were caused and didn't want to jeopardize any leads by commenting about the investigation. Though Tinley Park firefighters have responded to assist with squelching the flames, the …

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Cops: Frankfort Twp. Man Tried to Buy Sex With Child

A two-month investigation led Will and Cook county authorities to arrest Brandon Bergthold after he set up a meeting with an undercover officer, who posed as a father prostituting out his daughter.

Will County and Cook County sheriff's deputies arrested a Frankfort Township man Thursday, accusing him of trying to arrange an illicit meeting at a New Lenox motel with an undercover officer posing as a father willing to prostitute out his 6-year-old daughter. Brandon J. Bergthold, 25, of the 7700 block of North Ave., was charged with two felony counts of indecent solicitation of a child and two felony counts of traveling to meet a minor. Additional charges might be forthcoming once there is a review of more evidence, said Will County Sheriff's spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer, adding that the investigation is still open. Bergthold is being held in the Will County Jail on $750,000. If he is released on bail, he is to have no contact with …

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Paul Dailing

4:31 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012

We can, however, close comments. My apologies to those who wished to have a real discussion about this issue, but a certain commenter has made that impossible.   more ›

Spots Still Open for Senior Car Safety Check

Students will inspect cars for seniors during this free event Nov. 8 at Lincoln-Way North High School.

Area seniors looking to get their checked out before winter are in luck. The Senior Safety Car Check at Lincoln-Way North High School still has openings available Tuesday, Nov. 8.  This free event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., will have L-W automotive class students inspect cars, making sure their owners know what, if any, work needs to be done on them before colder temperatures hit the region. Along with the inspections, there also will be free refreshments and raffles. Call Frankfort Police Officer Leanne Bender at 815-469-9435 to make an appointment.  The car check is sponsored by Frankfort/Mokena TRIAD, a cooperative effort between Frankfort and Mokena police departments and the Will County Sheriff's Office to help improve the…

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