Woman Wakes Up to Stranger in Her Home, Walmart Thefts, DUIs: Darien Police Blotter

The following items were taken from the Darien police blotter throughout the past week. An arrest doesn't constitute a finding of guilt.

DUI

• Kristoffer Gomez, 26, of Westmont was stopped Dec. 24 for driving drunk in the area of Cass Avenue. His car slid off the roadway and into a ditch off the Cass Avenue exit ramp from I-55, police reported. Gomez was charged with the DUI, no insurance and not having a valid driver’s license. He’s next expected in court Jan. 31 in Wheaton.
• Saaida Laws-Jackson, 29, of Glenwood was arrested Dec. 31 for driving under the influence, driving with a revoked license and improper lane usage. Laws-Jackson is expected in court Feb. 7.

Armed robbery

• A suspect, who was later identified as Sabu Holliday, 42, entered the Dotty’s at 7516 Cass Ave. Dec. 24, showed a handgun to the store’s cashier and demanded money. The clerk gave him cash and their personal wallet before Holliday fled on foot. The total loss was around $268. Dec. 29, in cooperation with Downers Grove police, Holliday was taken into custody at a Red Roof Inn in Downers Grove and charged with the crime.

Retail theft

• An underage boy from Downers Grove was caught trying to steal several bottles of alcohol valued at $20 from the Walmart at 2189 75th Street Dec. 26. He was cited for the retail theft, released to a parent and has a court date pending in Downers Grove.
• Martha Gassmann, 51, was caught Dec. 27 trying to steal $29 worth of painting supplies from the same Walmart cited above. Gassmann, who’s from Westmont, was cited for retail theft and given a court date.

Hit-and-run

• Dec. 29, officers patrolling the area of Lemont Road and 87th Street noticed debris left over from a hit-and-run. It appeared as though someone had hit a street sign located in the median barrier of the street. Police are still looking for a suspect.

Theft

• Willis Lee Jr., 33, of Chicago was arrested Dec. 30 when he stole a laptop from Estate Sale City at 2113 75th Street in Darien.

Burglary

• A Darien resident living on the 3200 block of Beller Drive told police that around 9:50 p.m. Dec. 30, they were woken up by someone walking into their room and shining a flashlight. When the resident asked who was there, the suspect fled down the stairs, out the front door and to an unknown location. The resident said they believe the burglar stole about $40 in cash from the home before leaving.
• A resident living on the 2400 block of Green Valley Road reported Jan. 1 that between 1 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. that day, a burglar had broken into their home through a broken window and stole a variety of items totalling $655.

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