Blotter: Combative Man Told to Leave Durbin's and a Missing Ruger

SUNDAY, FEB. 19

Combative Man Told to Leave Durbin's

Police were called to Durbin's several times during the evening for a combative man who was eventually issued a citation for disorderly conduct. Anthony V. Gamino, 25, of the 7500 block of Ridgefield Lane in Tinley Park, was asked several times to leave Durbin's, 17265 Oak Park Ave., according to the report. When security tried to physically remove him around 1 a.m., he tried swinging at them, police said. He was being held on the ground when the cops rolled up and at one point, agreed to leave the scene. However, he reportedly returned later and was taken into custody by Tinley Park police. At the station, he made verbal threats to officers and refused to sign a notice of acceptance for the citation, according to the report. He was retrieved by his father.

Woman Pockets Shirts, Ice Cream Scoop, Mattress Cover and More

Officers arrested Melanie M. Gurgel, 33, of the 200 block of Minaoqua Street in Park Forest, around 2:15 p.m. at Kohl's, 7500 W. 191st Street in Tinley Park. She was charged with retail theft. Police said they found Gurgel with six women's shirts, an ice cream scooper, a mattress cover, a Hallmark greeting card and four bath towels, totaling $149.99. 

Thief Grabs Cold Medicine From Walt's

Police reported to Walt's Food Store, 16039 S. Harlem Ave., in Tinley Park, around 12:15 p.m. to investigate a recent "rash of thefts" in which people are removing medicine from their boxes, hiding the medicine in their pockets or purses, and placing the empty box on the shelf. The Saturday theft targeted cough and cold medicine, the report said. Surveillance footage shows a woman removing the boxes and placing them under her jacket. She reportedly manipulates the boxes under her coat and then returns empty ones to the shelves. "She repeats this several more times before going to the checkout lane," the report said. The woman then pays cash for a package of pork chops and leaves the store without paying for the over-the-counter drugs. She took 10 boxes total, the report said. The case remained under investigation Monday.

Radio Stolen from Truck at Bettenhausen Dealership

A $2,100 radio was reported missing from a 2012 Dodge Ram pickup truck that was parked between Feb. 2 and Feb. 18 at Bettenhausen Dodge, 8355 W. 159th Street in Tinley Park. An employee noticed the theft after he realized that price tags that usually hang from trucks' rearview mirror had been removed. He went to investigate and found that the HD touch-screen radio had been removed. 

FRIDAY, FEB. 17

A Missing Ruger 

A woman called police after realizing that someone stole a .45-caliber, semi-automatic Ruger handgun from its case, which was in her home in the 6800 block of West 179th Place in Tinley Park. The victim said 100 .45-cailber rounds and two magazines were also missing. She said she believed one of her two sons may have taken the gun. Both men no longer live with her and may be staying at an area motel, she said.

Cashing Fake Checks

Police arrested Gentle Taylor, 54, of the 3800 block of West Taylor Street in Chicago, around 2:40 p.m. at the Tinley Park Police Department after connecting him with a fraudlent check. They said Taylor deposited a fake check Dec. 8 around 12:40 p.m. at the MB Financial Branch located inside Walt's Food Center at 16039 Harlem Ave., in Tinley Park. The check, issued to Taylor, was for $935.62 and the issuer was listed as a local medical company, according to the report. Police were told Taylor was not an employee of the company. 

"The check was discovered to be fraudulent when someone attempted to cash two similar checks at the MB Financial inside Walt's Food in Frankfort," the report said. "When the MB bank employee called … to verify the checks, the customer excused himself from the counter to use the bathroom but did not return."

Officers eventually tracked down Taylor at a substance abuse treatment center in the area, they said. He was charged with one count of forgery.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 15

Prank Calls to Teacher

A local woman who teaches at a middle school in Homewood called police to report that she'd been receiving prank calls from someone who may be a student of hers. Most of the calls —at least 13 in total—were hangups, according to the report, but a couple were not. The caller asked for the teacher by her last name and when the woman asked who was calling, she was told that it was a "Mrs. Thomas" on the line. However, the caller sounded like a teenaged boy, the report said. In one call, the suspect used profanity. The phone numbers are listed as being in Homewood and are issued through Google. Police are investigating. 

Aggressive Coyotes

Police took a report on Feb. 10 that two coyotes were acting aggressive and becoming a nuisance in the area of 8400 Brandau Court in Tinley Park. Traps were set in place Feb. 14 by the area wildlife company, Track 'N Trap and signs were erected to warn residents of their presence. A male coyote was caught on Feb. 15 and euthanized. One coyote remained at large Monday.

SATURDAY, FEB. 11

Stash of Cash Stolen

A woman living in the 16800 block of South Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park reported that someone had taken $175 out of a bag of money that was stashed behind her bedroom dresser. The woman suspected her housekeeper may be to blame because she'd asked her to borrow money at some point. The resident believes the money was taken between noon Feb. 8 and 8 a.m. Feb. 11.

FRIDAY, FEB. 10

Warrant Arrest

Police arrested Christian I. Johnson, 21, of the 200 block of Barbara Drive in Schererville Ind., around 9:30 a.m. at the Tinley Park Police Department, on a warrant. His bail was set at $20,000.

TUESDAY, FEB. 7

Scammer Calls Woman, Gets Account Numbers

A local woman got a call around 9:30 a.m. from a man who said he represented Chase Bank. He told the woman that there had been a fraudulent $400 withdrawal on her account and asked her to go to the bank to complete some paperwork. Before hanging up the phone, he asked her to confirm her account numbers and she did. The woman soon feared she'd been scammed. She called Chase and was told there wasn't any fraudulent activity associated with her. She canceled her accounts.

SATURDAY, JAN. 28

Crook Takes Converter From Together We Cope Truck

Sometime between 5 p.m. Jan. 27 and 8:30 a.m. Jan. 28, someone stole the catalytic converter from a box truck that was parked in the alley outside Together We Cope, 17010 S. Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park.

Police report information is provided by the Tinley Park Police Department and other law enforcement agencies. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome. 

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