BERWYN
Search results in charges
Michael J. Clark, 32, of the 3400 block of South Elmwood Avenue, was charged with felony drug possession April 17, police said.

Shortly after midnight, Clark was being searched in the police station after being arrested on domestic battery charges, when a dollar bill fell out of his sock, police said. Clark attempted to retrieve the bill and put it in his pocket but was stopped by police.

When police examined the bill and saw a white powdery substance, Clark said, “It’s baking soda.” The substance later tested positive for cocaine.

He later told police that a friend at a bar asked him to hold on to the bill so he stuffed it in his sock and forgot about it. He said he didn’t know what was inside the bill, police said.
Clark was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and domestic battery for an incident that occurred at about 3:30 a.m. April 16.

Good deed costs man $100
A 36-year-old Chicago man agreed to break $100 bill for a stranger only to find out later the bill was a fake.

Police were called to a convenience station on the 1300 block of South Harlem Avenue at about 12:45 a.m. April 17 after the store clerk refused to accept the bill. The man had attempted to buy a bag of chips, several candy bars and a soda with the bill, police said.

The clerk informed the man the bill was fake and that he could not return it, police said. The man paid for the items with legitimate cash and asked to call the police because he wanted his $100 back.

Police told the man the bill was in fact fake and could not be returned. He told police he had been waiting to get his hair cut in a Chicago barbershop when a stranger walked in asking if anyone could break a $100. The man said he broke the bill and the stranger left, police said.
The bill was confiscated for later destruction.

$10K taken from home
More than $10,000 and an Macintosh desktop computer were stolen from a home on the 6700 block of West Riverside Avenue some time between noon and 2:30 p.m. April 17, police said.

The homeowner called police after returning home to find her front door had been kicked open and the back door had been left open. After searching the home, police discovered the bedroom and an office had been ransacked.

Witnesses told police they had seen at least four young men or boys wandering the area at the time of the burglary. Although witnesses were unable to provide detailed descriptions of the suspects, they reported seeing them driving a dark green 1999 or 2000 Cadillac SST.

BB gun spree reported
Windows on seven vehicles and a storefront were damaged after a BB gun vandalism spree in the early morning hours of April 28.

Police first received reports of the damage at about 2:30 a.m. A resident later reported additional damage and said he saw three males running west on Scoville Avenue from 13th Street at about 3:30 a.m.

Areas included:
• 6200 block of West 26th Street, one storefront window;
• 2800 block of South Highland Avenue, two cars; and
• Area of 1200 block of West Scoville Avenue, five cars.

Man faces battery count
A Berwyn man faces two felony counts of aggravated battery to a police officer and resisting a police officer after admitting he was on PCP during a struggle with officers, police said.

Police were called to a disturbance at about 6:15 p.m. April 19 and found Paul F. Mayers, 34, of the 3700 block of Wisconsin Avenue, wandering shirtless in the eastbound lanes of Ogden Avenue near Wisconsin Avenue as cars swerved to avoid hitting him.

When police arrive, Mayers spat at the officers and began yelling at them while running away. An officer caught up to Mayers and grabbed his arm to prevent him from fleeing. Mayers turned around and raised his arm in a threatening manner, but slipped and fell. The officers quickly pinned him to the ground and attempted to handcuff him while he spat at them.

After attempting to break free, officers eventually succeeding in handcuffing both his arms. One officer reported injuries to his shoulder from the struggle.

Mayers later told police that he bought $120 of PCP the day before and had been smoking it throughout the night and day, police said. He said he had little memory of the event and apologized to police.

Van stolen from 19th Street
A 2006 silver Dodge van was stolen from 19th Street, between Lombard and Harvey avenues, some time in the night before April 19, police said.

Drunken driving alleged
Ernesto Martinez, 35, of the 2500 block of Grove Avenue, was charged with drunk driving and six other traffic violations after police pulled him over for swerving in and out of oncoming traffic at about 2:15 a.m. April 20, police said.

Martinez was driving west on 26th Street near Wesley Avenue when the officer noticed the vehicle swerve into oncoming traffic. Martinez moved back into the westbound lane and nearly hit a parked vehicle, police said.

The officer saw the same thing happen again and attempted to pull over Martinez’s vehicle, which traveled below the speed limit for two blocks before coming to a stop. Martinez staggered out of the vehicle and slurred his speech.

He was arrested and brought to the police station where refused to take a field sobriety test or a breathalyzer. He was charged with one count of driving under the influence of alcohol, three counts of improper lane usage, one count of driving without insurance and two other misdemeanor traffic violations.

Assault alleged
Sergio A. Parra-Bejar, 41, of the 1400 block of South Kenilworth Avenue, Berwyn, was charged with aggravated battery after threatening a woman at his home at about midnight April 5, police said.

The woman told police she was sleeping when Parra-Bejar woke her and threatened her with the knife. The woman grabbed Parra-Bejar’s hand, and he dropped the knife, police said. A third occupant of the home called police when he heard the woman scream.
Parra-Bejar was arrested and charged with aggravated battery.

$20,000 in jewelry stolen
Several boxes containing about $20,000 of custom jewelry were stolen from a garage in the 2100 block of South Wesley Avenue between the evening of April 2 and 9 a.m. April 3, police said.