Wednesday Blotter: Man Accused of Punching 15-year-old Girl

The Des Plaines Police Department provided the following reports. 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.

Battery of teen bike rider

Aug. 28: Police arrested Joseph Nathan Sykes, 55, of Des Plaines, for allegedly hitting a 15-year-old girl in the back of the head. The girl was riding her bike on the sidewalk of the 900 block of Lee Street when Sykes approached her and began talking to her in slurred speech.

According to the report, the teen told police he had the smell of alcohol about him, and she said that she didn't want to talk. As she turned to go, Sykes allegedly struck her from behind with his fist, knocking her down. He then fled, but police found him sleeping at the intersection of Algonquin Road and Lee Street.

He was taken into custody, and has a court date of Sept. 21. 

The previous day, Sykes was cited for drinking a 12-ounce Miller Lite out in public in the same area.

Earlier:

3 Cited for Curfew Violation 

Aug. 27: Police cited Eduardo Gonzalez, 20, of Rosemont, for being out after curfew with two boys, ages 14 and 13. They had been walking south on Chestnut Street after a stop at the Peacock Mobil gasoline station, 2000 S. Mannheim Rd. The group acknowledged to police that they were aware of the curfew, but decided to take their chances anyway. All were given $250 fines. 

Heroin Bust

Aug. 27: Police stopped Elizabeth Cazares, 21, of Des Plaines, for a traffic violation. As the officer approached the car, he noticed Cazares making furtive movements. A search of the vehicle revealed a half gram of heroin, which she told police was obtained with her boyfriend a week earlier.

Police also discovered Cazares was driving on a suspended license. She was charged and given a Sept. 6 court date.

Hidden Space for Pot Pipes

Aug. 27: Police found two 17-year-old males smoking a cigar while parked in the lot of a gasoline station in the 700 block of Golf Road. They also found a book with a hidden compartment that contained two pipes with burnt residue, which later turned out to be marijuana. One of the boys admitted that he used the items occasionally to smoke pot. Both boys were cited and released into the custody of their parents.