Drunken Driver With Multiple Warrants Flees Crash Scene: Northbrook Police Blotter

NORTHBROOK, IL — The following information comes from the Northbrook Police Department and court records as a record of incidents reported to police and those arrested on criminal charges, which represent accusations by the state that are often dropped or reduced. Updated information may be available from the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court. Everyone arrested is presumed to be innocent unless found guilty in court beyond a reasonable doubt.

ARRESTS

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

• Ryan Litwin, of Des Plaines, is accused of violating the median on the roadway, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, driving while license revoked, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, unlawful transport of cannabis, unlawful use of cannabis by a driver, and was arrested at 1:11 a.m. Dec. 5, at Dundee and Waukegan roads. A police officer witnessed Litwin, who was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Cruze, cross over the raised median. After pulling Litwin over, the officer found an open plastic baggie with a green leafy plant material on the front dashboard of the car, along with a glass smoking bong. A court date of Dec. 24 was assigned.
• Klever W. Vega-Licta, of Chicago, is accused of DUI, having a suspended registration, no valid driver's license, an expired license plate, and was arrested at 10:09 p.m. Dec. 7, at Lake Cook and Lee roads. An officer saw a 2012 Volkswagen stopped in the traffic lane and Vega-Licta reportedly slumped over the steering wheel. The officer had to knock on the driver’s window several times before Vega-Licta woke up. The officer said he could see several open and empty alcoholic bottles throughout his car, and Vega-Licta appeared intoxicated. A court date of Dec. 24 was assigned.
• Artemio Villagomez Gomez, of Elgin, is accused of following too closely, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, driving while license revoked, felony aggravated DUI, operation of an uninsured motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an auto accident, illegal transportation of alcohol, and was arrested at 11:15 a.m. Dec. 10, at Dundee and Waukegan roads. Police had responded to an auto crash at an intersection. The victim of the crash said the other vehicle, a 2000 Ford F350, had fled west on Dundee Road. Officers found the vehicle still trying to flee the area. The officers were finally able to stop the vehicle and speak to the driver, Villagomez Gomez, who they reported appeared intoxicated, and several empty beer containers in the vehicle. Villagomez Gomez also had active warrants out of McHenry County for aggravated DUI. A court date of Dec. 12 was assigned.

LAST WEEK'S BLOTTER: Hotel Bar Patron Batters Bartender — Northbrook Police Blotter

INCIDENTS

PHONE SCAM

A Techny Road resident reported at 8:11 a.m. Dec. 5, that they had received a phone call from someone saying he was with the fraud department of the Apple corporation. He advised her there had been some fraud in California that the complainant had been involved in. To clear up the matter, the complainant would have to withdraw $18,000. While still on the phone, he instructed her to put $2,500 in a Bitcoin machine, which she did. The remaining money would have to be given to a fraud agent that would meet her in a parking lot. The complainant followed the instructions and waited for to meet with her. The person took custody of the remaining money and left. After the event, the complainant realized she had been scammed.

BURGLARY TO VEHICLE

• A contractor working at a house under construction in the 1100 block of Gateway Court called police at 2:10 p.m. Dec. 5, to report that he and the other contractors saw a man reach into the complainant's pickup truck and steal a Milwaukee battery charger and four batteries for his tools. They yelled at the man to stop, but he fled with the stolen items in a silver Ford pickup. The stolen items were worth $1,200.
• A complainant told police on Dec. 7, he had parked his work vehicle in a parking lot in the 1000 block of Skokie Boulevard for a few days. When he returned, he found the driver's side window had been shattered and several tools were stolen. The approximate value for the tools was $700.

DONATION SCAM

A complainant called police at 3:54 p.m. Dec. 5, to report three teenagers had approached her in a parking lot as she parked her car in the 800 block of Willow Road. The trio claimed they were trying to raise money for a fallen friend and asked her to donate money via a credit card reader. The complainant complied and thought she had donated $5. She noticed fraudulent charges on that same credit card in the amount of $2,500. She contacted her credit card bank and reported the fraud.

THEFT

A resident in the 1900 block of Kingsley Circle reported at 1:46 p.m. Dec. 6, someone had stolen his Amazon delivery off his porch after it was delivered. The item was a new WiFi computer part worth $950.

IDENTITY THEFT

A Winchester Lane resident reported at 4:01 p.m. Dec. 7, someone had used his Medicare account information to put in medical claims that were billed in November. The complainant did not know how the person got his personal information. The total amount of fraud was $455.60.

STOLEN VEHICLE

Employees at an auto dealership in the 1500 block of Skokie Boulevard reported at 12:25 p.m. Dec. 8, seeing an unknown man get inside an unlocked 2022 red Toyota RAV4 that had the keys left inside of it while it was parked on the side of the building waiting for service. He drove the vehicle off the property before employees could stop him.

CREDIT CARD FRAUD
A Pfingsten Road resident reported at 12:39 p.m. Dec. 9, someone had used her credit card number to make unlawful purchases through Amazon and Uber Eats. After the complainant saw the fraud, she canceled the credit card. The total amount of fraud was $1,729.