Police investigate fire

Elmhurst police said they responded to a fire at Eldridge Park at about 10 p.m. March 25.

Police said a call of a prairie fire on the south side of the park’s sledding hill burned a large area of grass estimated to be 2,000 feet by 100 feet. Police said the Fire Department did not find a point of origin, and it is unknown what caused the fire.

Police said that while they and the Fire Department were handling the fire, one of their engines sunk into the soft parkway and became stuck. Police said the engine left large ruts from the rear wheels about 10 inches deep and 6 feet long in the park, but there wasn’t any damage to the vehicle.

Youths attempt chair theft

Elmhurst police said some youths were arrested after being spotted carrying a restaurant chair to a car at about 5 p.m. March 30.

Police said they observed three subjects and a friend carrying a wooden chair belonging to Buffalo Wild Wings, 149 N. York Road, to their vehicle. Police said the subjects attempted to put the chair in the trunk of a vehicle but ran away when they saw the police arriving.

Police said Michael J. Butler, 18, of the 300 block of Avery Street, and Zachary Markos, 17, of the 5000 block of Washington, Lombard, and a juvenile were arrested on charges of theft and released from the station after being given no trespassing notices.

Drug charges leveled

Elmhurst police said Jack Buchanan, 31, of Schaumburg was arrested on drug charges at about 11:15 p.m. March 31.

Police said they observed Buchanan injecting heroin while in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn, 624 York Road. Police said they found Buchanan to be in possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia.

Police said Buchanan was transported to the police station, where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Police said they transported Buchanan to DuPage County Jail.

Cops catch youths drinking

Elmhurst police said five young adults were arrested on underage drinking charges at about 1:30 a.m. April 3.

Police said they and a canine unit responded to an attempted car burglary report at Berkley and Montrose streets and set up a perimeter because a large number of people were observed running from the scene.

Police said they found Jeffrey Schneider, 20, of the 500 block of Berkley, and Andrew T. Godawa, 19, of the 300 block of West Montrose, walking in the area. Police said the two males appeared to have consumed alcohol and had conflicting stories, so they took them to Schneider’s home to see if his parents could verify the two boys’ whereabouts.

Police said they found three other offenders at the home. They charged Schneider; Godawa; Christopher Malloy, 19, of the 900 block of East Sunrise; Brenton B. Battye, 19, of the 400 block of Argyle; and Samantha Jourige, 19, of the 600 block of York Road with consumption of alcohol by a minor. Police said all five young adults were issued cash bonds or I-bonds and released.

Traffic stop reveals drugs

Elmhurst police said a routine traffic stop revealed that a car contained some drugs at about 1:30 a.m. April 4.

Police said they stopped a vehicle for having an obstructed windshield at Church and Cottage Hills streets when the driver of the vehicle, Emily Beauregard, 21, of the 300 block of South Illinois, Villa Park, was found to have an expired driver’s license and was driving an uninsured vehicle. Police said the passenger, Tara Lee Verdak, 22, of Hillside was found to be in possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia.

Police said Beauregard was given a warning ticket for the obstructed windshield and cited for not having a valid driver’s license and driving without insurance was released on the scene on a $2,000 I-bond. Police said Verdak was charged with possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia.

Cops arrest drunk driver

Elmhurst police said a man was arrested on drunk driving charges at about 1 a.m. April 6 at North Avenue and York Road.

Police said during a traffic stop of Nicholas G. Mauro, 35, of Elmwood Park, they found him to be intoxicated. After using a Breathalyzer on Mauro, officers arrested him and placed him in the back of a squad car, where he kicked out one of the vehicle’s back windows, police said.

Police said they removed Mauro from the vehicle and placed him on the ground, where he rustled around, causing cuts to his arms and legs. After being brought to the police station and being placed in lockup, Mauro demanded medical attention, so police brought him to a local hospital, they said.

Police said Mauro was charged with speeding, improper lane usage, failure to signal, driving under the influence and criminal damage to property.

Police said Mauro was released after posting a cash bail.

Police investigating car fire

Elmhurst police said they responded to a call of a car on fire in the 400 block of West Wrightwood at about 1:30 a.m. April 6.

Police said they were sent to the scene, where a car was on fire in the rear of the location. An investigation revealed that the car was last seen in the parking lot of the owner’s Addison home the previous day. Police said there are no suspects in the case.

Police arrest two suspects

Elmhurst police said they arrested two people at about 8 p.m. April 6 in the 170 block of East 56th Street.

Police said they responded to a call of someone leaving a local Burger King after attempting to buy food with a fake $20 bill. Police said they located and stopped Jamie Banasiak, 27, of Midlothian and arrested and Banasiak on charges of attempted theft, driving with a suspended license, driving an uninsured vehicle, failure to secure a child’s safety seat. Midlothian was also found to be in possession of a cocaine-like substance and was “charged accordingly.”

Police said William C. Nichols, 27, of Midlothian was a passenger in the vehicle and found to be wanted on charges out of DuPage County. Police said he posted bail and that Banasiak was taken to DuPage County Jail.

Man banned from locations

Elmhurst police said they banned a man from certain locations at about 9:30 a.m. April 7.

Police said the man has been banned from the train station coffee shop and Public Library because of strange behavior toward nuns who work there. Police said the man was given a trespass notice for each place and advised to leave the nuns alone and not to bother them or follow them to their vehicles.

Man arrested for DUI

Elmhurst police said Eric Rodriguez, 30, of the 200 block of East Elmhurst Avenue, was arrested at about 10:30 p.m. March 17.

Police said after hearing three reports of hit and runs by Rodriguez, he hit a tree at Schiller and Willow streets, where he attempted to flee the scene. Police said Rodriguez appeared to be very intoxicated and was first transported to the police station before Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, where he continued to be combative and kicked a police officer in the face.

Police said Rodriguez was charged with inappropriate lane usage, aggravated battery and aggravated driving under the influence.

Lombard

Retail theft charged

• Shavelle L. Robinson, 29, of Chicago was charged with retail theft, possession of a controlled substance and obstruction at about 10 p.m. March 3 at Von Maur, 145 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.
 

• Hodna Salam, 30, and Alan Alhajri, 44, both of Carol Stream, were charged with retail theft at 12:30 p.m. March 4 at JCPenney, 175 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.
 

• Dominic Bellantuono, 21, of Burr Ridge was charged with retail theft at about 12:30 p.m. March 4 at Von Maur, 145 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.
 

• Aubrey Backman, 18, and Ariel Backman, 18, both of Naperville, were charged with retail theft at about 4:15 p.m. March 4 at Von Maur, 145 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.
 

• Samuel Burke, 18, of Warrenville was charged with retail theft at about 4:30 p.m. March 5 at Von Maur, 145 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.
 

• Nuong Le, 39, of Glendale Heights was charged with retail theft at about 3 p.m. March 6 at Von Maur, 145 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.
 

• Shelby N. Kaminsky, 24, of Gurnee was charged with retail theft at about 12:30 p.m. March 7 at Von Maur, 145 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.
 

• Antoinette Walker, 18, of Westchester and a juvenile were charged with retail theft at about 7:45 p.m. March 7 at Von Maur, 145 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.
 

• Stanislaw Motyka, 33, and Anna Motyka, 30, both of Chicago, were charged with retail theft at about 9:30 p.m. March 7 at Von Maur, 145 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.
 

• A juvenile was charged with retail theft at about 5:30 p.m. March 8 at Von Maur, 145 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.
 

• Violetta Lewandowska, 42, of Chicago was charged with retail theft at about 5:15 p.m. March 10 at JCPenney, 175 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.
 

• Ronald Johnson, 46, of Maywood was charged with retail theft at about 9 p.m. March 10 at Jewel, 1177 S. Main St., police said.
 

• A juvenile was charged with retail theft at about 7:30 p.m. March 13 at Von Maur, 145 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.
 

• Andrew L. Cazares, 22, of Chicago was charged with retail theft at about 1 p.m. March 14 at Carson’s, 230 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.
 

• Shawn Sinclair, 30, of Bloomingdale was charged with retail theft at about 8:15 p.m. March 14 at Carson’s, 230 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.
 

• A juvenile was charged with retail theft at about 7:30 p.m. March 13 at Von Maur, 145 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.
 

• Andrew L. Cazares, 22, of Chicago was charged with retail theft at about 1 p.m. March 14 at Carson’s, 230 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.
 

• Shawn Sinclair, 30, of Bloomingdale was charged with retail theft at about 8:15 p.m. March 14 at Carson’s, 230 Yorktown Shopping Center, police said.

DUI charged
 

• Aulbre Fields, age not given, of Chicago was charged with drunken driving, leaving the scene and having no driver’s license at about 5 p.m. March 4 on Route 38, police said.
 

• Michael Basil, 33, of Clarendon Hills and Vivian M. Madey, 47, of Chicago were charged with drunken driving at about midnight March 5 in the 2300 block of Fountain Square Drive, police said.
 

• Kate E. Doering, 28, of West Dundee was charged with drunken driving and improper lane usage at 12:15 a.m. March 6 at Westmore Road and Kenilworth, police said.
 

• James Meador, 26, of Westmont was charged with drunken driving, improper lane usage and no registration at about 2:30 a.m. March 7 at Roosevelt Road and Main Street, police said.
 

• James J. Brokaw, 19, of Wheaton was charged with drunken driving, a sign violation and failure to signal at about 1:30 a.m. March 12 at Wilson Avenue and Finley Road, police said.
 

• Cristal Wasilevich, 18, of Downers Grove was charged with drunken driving and underage drinking at about 3:30 a.m. March 12 at Route 38 and Fairfield Avenue, police said. Charged at the same time with underage drinking were Jay Andreuccetti, 18, of Downers Grove and Jeff Wasilevich, 20, of Downers Grove, police said.
 

• Christopher Nickels, 29, of Lombard was charged with drunken driving and speeding at about 1 a.m. March 14 at Main and Hickory streets, police said.
 

• Edward May, 41, of Villa Park was charged with drunken driving, improper lane usage and disobeying a traffic control device at about 2:15 a.m. March 14 at Westmore Road and Maple Street, police said.
 

• Christopher Nickels, 29, of Lombard was charged with drunken driving and speeding at about 1 a.m. March 14 at Main and Hickory streets, police said.
 

• Edward May, 41, of Villa Park was charged with drunken driving, improper lane usage and disobeying a traffic control device at about 2:15 a.m. March 14 at Westmore Road and Maple Street, police said.

Battery counts filed
 

• Hugo Sanchez, 24, of Lombard was charged with battery at about 11:30 p.m. March 8 in the 300 block of Route 53, police said.
 

• Matthew Fritsch, 22, of Lombard was charged with battery at about 6:30 a.m. March 14 in the first block of East Madison Street, police said.