Crestwood Man, 48, Arrested After Stealing Cheerleading Coach's Bag: Oak Forest Police

OAK FOREST, IL — A Crestwood man faces a felony theft charge after an incident last month at Oak Forest High School, police said Thursday.

On Wednesday, Feb. 5, the Oak Forest Police Department arrested Michael J. Witowski, 48, of Crestwood with one felony count of theft from a school. Police say Witowski was seen on security footage fleeing Oak Forest High School on Jan. 19 with a backpack that belonged to a cheerleading coach from another high school attending the annual Bengal Challenge cheerleading competition.

According to police, security cameras in the school showed an unknown subject enter the school, make his way into a classroom where the cheerleading coach placed her belongings, and flee the building holding what appeared to be the coach’s backpack.

Through social media posts and the combined efforts of administrators at Oak Forest High School and Oak Forest police officers, Witoski was identified as the suspect and taken into custody without incident, police said.

“We thank the Oak Forest community and the high school for their assistance in this investigation,” said Oak Forest Police Chief Scott Durano. “It is through this sort of community effort that we can keep one another safe, and successfully investigate incidents like this one.”