Police Blotter: Accused Panhandler and Solicitor Busted

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 29

No Soliciting

Jean R. Philippe, 47, of the 8400 block of South Burnham Avenue in Chicago, was arrested and charged with soliciting after police were called about a suspicious person knocking on doors on Mildred Lane, according to the report. Police had already informed Philippe's boss that the company needed a permit to solicit business in the Heights, according to the report.

Panhandling at Subway

Joseph Townsley, 56, of the 19400 block of Glenwood Road, was arrested and charged with panhandling after a City of Chicago Heights employee told police he saw Townsley approaching Subway customers asking for money, according to the report.

Test Drive Thief

An employee of N.U. Finish Auto, a used car dealership in Merrillville, IN, told police a 34-year-old woman took a Chevy Malibu for a test drive Jan. 25 and had not returned it, according to the report. The company initially bought the vehicle from an auto auction in Matteson, according to the report.

Garage in Wonderland

A 47-year-old Chicago Heights man told police an unknown person drew a picture of a rabbit on his garage door sometime between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., according to the report.

Pay None

An employee at Pay Half on Joe Orr Road told police two women and one man were in the store making "several furtive movements" before leaving the business, setting off the alarm as they did so. The employee followed the suspects out of the store to confront them, but the trio fled, according to the report. The employee did not know what the three had taken, police said.

Police report information is provided by the  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.