3 Arrested In Park Forest, 1 With Outstanding Warrants: Police

PARK FOREST, IL — Three people were arrested Friday on the side of Western Avenue in Park Forest, police said.

According to police, officers stopped a vehicle after spotting 20-year-old Keon Townsend inside. Townsend had two outstanding warrants at the time for charges of resisting a peace officer and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon following a 2021 Park Forest arrest.

When officers approached the car, police said Townsend bent down and appeared to put something under his seat. As officers tried to arrest Townsend, he fought with police, "causing his arrest to take place on the pavement on Western Avenue," police wrote in a news release.

Police said neither Townsend or officers were injured during the fight.

Two women who were in the car were also arrested after attempting to interfere with Townsend's arrest, a spokesman for Park Forest police said. Officers then found a loaded semi-automatic pistol under Townsend's seat.

According to police, the incident was already dangerous due to Townsend's previous record but made "even more treacherous" by friends intervening.

A fourth person was also in the car but was not arrested and is not facing charges.