Police Blotter: Drag Racing, Commercial Burglary

The following items are taken from the Highland Park Police Department. 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.

Commercial burglary

Police are investigating three commercial burglaries in the Central Business District that occurred sometime between 8:50 p.m. and 10:26 p.m. on Oct. 5. Unknown person/s smashed the front glass windows to three businesses and stole an undetermined amount of currency. The incidents occurred in the 600 block of Central Avenue and 1700 block of First Street, Highland Park.

Burglary to motor vehicle

Police are investigating the report of a burglary to motor vehicle (wallet was taken from the passenger seat containing $20, two debit cards and IL drivers’ license) overnight in the 2800 block of Summit Avenue, Highland Park.

Police are investigating a second report of a burglary to motor vehicle (Garmin Nuvi and black iPod Classic) overnight in the 2800 block of Summit Avenue, Highland Park.

Criminal damage to property

Police are investigating the report of a criminal damage to property (damage to newly painted and repaired planters and other property) The incident occurred over the weekend in the 1800 block of Green Bay Road, Highland Park. On Oct. 9 at 3:25 p.m., two male juvenile subjects on skateboards were identified as being involved in this incident and were interviewed.

Police are investigating the report of a criminal damage to property (damage to 8’ cedar fence) damage occurred within the last few weeks. The incident occurred in the 2000 block of Painters Lake Road, Highland Park.

Police are investigating five reports of criminal damage to property in the 800-900 block of Half Day Road and also the 600 block of Old Trail. Several mailboxes were reported to be struck and damaged as well as landscape lights and two concrete lion statutes were reported damaged and knocked to the ground. The incidents occurred sometime between late evening on Oct. 7 to Oct. 8. 

Theft

Police are investigating the report of a theft (shopping carts and fencing) taken over the past weekend in the 700 block of Central Avenue, Highland Park.

Cherie Donahoe, 51, of the 2300 block of Manor Lane, Park Ridge, was arrested and charged with retail theft after police were called to the 1500 block of Clavey Road, Highland Park. Donahoe was released on bond with a court date of Dec. 26.

Police are investigating the report of a theft (solid yellow gold circa 1945 ring) missing since Sept. 15 in the 1600 block of Green Bay Road, Highland Park.

Police are investigating the report of a theft (gold and silver men's Rolex watch) sometime from Oct. 1 to Oct. 7 in the 1600 block of Lake Cook Road, Highland Park.

Driving while license suspended

Kevin Diaz, 23, of the 2600 block of Marmora Avenue, Chicago, was arrested and charged with driving with a suspended license, speeding and open transportation of alcohol after being stopped by police in the 1900 block of Skokie Valley Road in Highland Park. Diaz was released on bond with a court date of November 9.

Efim Rabinovitch, 51, of the 3800 block of West Jarvis, Chicago, was arrested and charged with driving with a revoked license, suspended registration, uninsured motor vehicle and improper use of registration after being stopped by police in the 400 block of Skokie Valley Road in Highland Park. Rabinovitch was released on bond with a court date of Nov. 9.

Interference with public officers

George Atanasiu, 52, of the 700 block of St. Johns Avenue, Highland Park, was arrested and charged with interference with public officer and unlawful treatment of animals after police were called to the report of a dog locked in the trunk of a vehicle in the 400 block of Marshman Street in Highland Park.  Atanasiu was released on bond with a court date of October 26, 2011 at 301 Greenleaf Street, Park City.

Drag racing

Giovanni Lopez, 20, of the 2800 block of Parkside, Chicago, and Bernardino Barrera, Jr., 19, of the 2100 block of Keystone Avenue, Chicago, were arrested and charged with drag racing after both were stopped by police in the 1500 block of Skokie Valley Road in Highland Park.  Lopez and Barrera, Jr. were both released after posting bond with a court date of Nov. 9.

Driving while license revoked

Phillip Covington, 61, of the 1000 block of Atlantic, Waukegan, was arrested and charged with driving with a revoked license and speeding after being stopped by police in the 1900 block of Skokie Valley Road in Highland Park.  Covington was released on bond with a court date of Oct. 26.

Driving under the influence

Jeffrey Perlmutter, 55, of the 200 block of Moraine Road, Highland Park, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, improper lane usage and disobeying a traffic control device after being stopped by police near the intersection of Sheridan Road and Waverly Road  in Highland Park. Perlmutter was released on bond with a court date of Nov. 18.

Fredy Salinas-Ayuzo, 20, of the 0-20 block of Prairie Avenue, Highwood, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, obstructing traffic, no valid drivers license and consumption of alcohol by minor after police were called to a suspicious incident in the 700 block of Lincoln Avenue West in Highland Park.  Salinas-Ayuzo was released on bond with a court date of November 18.