Tuesday Blotter: Gang Activity, Man Steals Chicken and Vodka

The following items are taken from the Des Plaines Police Department. In all incidents where an arrest occurred, a charge is merely an accusation and not evidence of guilt. The arrested person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Aggravated assault

April 9: Police responded to a call from a woman at a residence on the 1300 block of prospect Avenue, who said that a man, covering his face with a black bandana, approached her and her family, flashed gang signs and then pulled a gun out and pointed it at them. The victims went into their home and saw the unknown offender leave the scene in a silver Toyota FJ Cruiser. 

Battery

April 10: David John Boyce, 45, of the 300 block of South Lee Street, was charged with battery after a woman called police and reported that he had struck her in the face. Police had been to the scene of the incident earlier in the day for a report of harassment involving the two parties.

Burglary to vehicle

April 9: A man reported that the driver's side window of his work vehicle had been busted and his GPS stolen on the 2100 block of S. Webster Lane.

Criminal damage to property

April 9: Police observed local gang graffiti spray painted in red on a stop sign at 1985 S. Chestnut Street.

April 9: Police observed local gang graffiti spray painted in black on the east side of a townhome at 1371 E. Howard Avenue.

Criminal damage to vehicle

April 8: Police responded to multiple reports of shots being fired around the 1300 block of Howard Avenue. Witnesses suspected that the shots were fired from a gold Chevrolet Impala that was seen speeding around the area and that the incident is gang related. Police were able to locate the suspected vehicle and found the front windshield shattered and a brick nearby.

Defacement of property

April 11: Eduardo Avilez, 18, of the 1800 block of Pine Court was charged with four counts of criminal defacement of property and one count of criminal damage to a motor vehicle after police received multiple graffiti complaints and observed Avilez on the 1300 block of E. Prospect Avenue with paint residue on his hands. Avilez admitted to posting the graffiti.

Disorderly conduct

April 10: Eric Orta, 21, of the 200 block of Graceland Avenue was charged with disorderly conduct after a witness called police to report that Orta was walking up and down Willow Avenue (across the street from a park, where the witness and and several small children were playing) shooting birds and squirrels from tree tops with a pellet gun.

Retail theft

April 8: Mark T. Dranka, 42, of the 2000 block of Halsey Drive, was charged with retail theft after he attempted to leave Shop N' Save, 518 Metropolitan Way, with a bottle of vodka and a rotisserie chicken underneath his jacket, according to a police report.

Suspicious incident

April 10: Police received multiple reports of shots being fired around the 2000 block of Pine Street. A witness said that a man in a white van stuck his head out the window and shouted a gang reference, followed by "Pine Court, you all gonna die!" before firing three gun shots and leaving the scene.

Unlawful use of credit card

April 10: A woman reported that her wallet had been stolen while she was in the customer service line at Jewel, 1155 S. Le St. The victim suspects a "scruffy" looking female and male, whom she struck up a conversation with. When the victim cancelled her credit cards she discovered that someone had taken $1 (yes $1) from her VISA debit card at a gas station. The victim also relayed that an "intoxicated" female called her later that afternoon and said she had the victim's wallet and would return it. The victim was advised to phone police if an exchange occurred.