Tuesday Blotter: Offender Harasses Woman at Train Depot

The 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.

Arson

Police responded to an arson report at a condominium complex in the 1400 block of E. Ashland Avenue Oct. 22. According to the report, a resident heard a loud bang come from the parking garage. She went down to the parking garage and found the building’s main cable box had been damaged and there was smoke coming from it. Police reported the cable box appeared to have been blown up from the inside, and the area smelled like fireworks. Pieces of the cable box were scattered in the parking spot adjacent to the box, and no suspect or witness information was available at the time of the report.

Disorderly Conduct

Police were dispatched to the train depot, 1501 E. Miner St., after receiving a report of disorderly conduct Oct. 22. According to the report, the victim came into the police station and reported the offender, later identified as Jose F. Benavides-Carranza, 32, of Des Plaines, approached her while she was waiting outside the depot and told her he wanted to have sex with her. When the victim did not respond, Benavides-Carranza followed her and said he liked her lips, and he wanted to have her lips.

The victim told Benavides-Carranza she was going to call police, and he allegedly said, “I don’t care.” The victim continued to walk away from him, but he continued to follow her toward a PACE bus. The driver exited the bus and asked the woman if she was OK and told Benavides-Carranza to leave.

Police located Benavides-Carranza in the 600 block of S. Graceland Avenue, crossing Ellinwood Street on his bicycle. Police said Benavides-Carranza smelled of alcohol, and police observed he was unsteady on his feet. He was transported to the police station, but was not charged with disorderly conduct because the victim did not wish to sign complaints against him. Benavides-Carranza was issued citations for intoxicated pedestrian, bicyclist in the roadway, and was given a warning for trespassing. His court date is Nov. 28 at Skokie courthouse.

Earlier:

Possession of Hypodermic Syringes

Police were dispatched to the 1200 block of Lee Street after a caller reported observing man, later identified as Brad L. Bergen, 37, of Addison, having difficulty walking shortly before 11 a.m. on Oct. 21. According to the report, police observed Bergen having difficulty walking in the parking lot of a gas station, and appearing under the influence.

Bergen told police he was on the wrong bus, and got off at the intersection of Lee Street and Algonquin Road. He said he was trying to get to a friend’s house in Norridge. Bergen slurred his speech and had difficulty forming complete sentences. When police asked Bergen if he had money for another bus ride, Bergen said he might and started pulling a handful of items out of his pocket including a hypodermic syringe, according to police. Police said, Bergen said he used the needle to “shoot up heroin” around 1 a.m. on Oct. 21. Police took Bergen into custody, and found another hypodermic syringe in his jacket pocket. Bergen was charged with possession of hypodermic syringes/needles and was given a court date of Nov. 8 at Skokie courthouse.

Criminal Trespass to Property

Bassem A. Hayek, 61, of Naperville, was observed by Illinois Gaming Board agents in , 3000, S. River Road, gambling, according to a police report. Hayek is on the self-exclusion gambling list, and was taken into custody by IGB, and Des Plaines police were contacted. Hayek was issued a citation for $250 and advised he was not allowed back into the casino. He was escorted to his vehicle and he left without incident.

Connect on Facebook.